Larks on Frensham Pond

Inaugral youth championship followed by open meeting

Lark Youth Championships

Frensham Pond SC hosted the first ever Lark Youth Championships on Saturday 16th April, for helms under 21 years old. The event, sponsored by Typhoon, was hotly contested and well attended by twenty-two boats.

In light airs, David Marlow and Dougal Scott came well off the port of the line of the first race. They rounded the windward mark first, and held their lead to the end. The race for second was ultimately won by Stephen and Ian Videlo, with Alex Adams and Carolyn Curwin in third.

Race two was closer; Marlow / Scott again led at the first mark and for the first two laps, but with a much closer chasing pack. In a lightening breeze, the Videlos finally came through at the top of the penultimate beat, to finish with the Videlos first and Marlow /Scott in second.

In race three Ollie Impey and Kathryn Young led round the windward mark, but the fleet bunched up in very light airs. With some confusion about which way to round the second mark, Adams / Curwin ended up in the lead. However the Videlos gybed early on the subsequent run to take the lead, which they held to the finish, followed by Adams / Curwin.

Marlow / Scott were the only boat that could beat the Videlos going into the last race, and to do so they had to win. Marlow / Scott popped out of traffic at the starboard end to take the lead at the first mark, but the Videlos were chasing in second. After a tight couple of laps, the Videlos came through to win the race and the championship, with Hannah Diamond and Nikki Curwen taking second.

Overall results

1st Stephen and Ian Videlo 3 pts
2nd David Marlow and Dougal Scott 6 pts
3rd Alex Adams and Carolyn Curwin 10 pts
4th Ed Bradburn and Chris White 10 pts
5th Hannah Diamond and Nikki Curwen 13 pts
6th Ollie Impey and Kathryn Young 15 pts

First 15 or under: Ed Bradburn and Chris White
First 16-18: Stephen and Ian Videlo
First 19-21: Alex Adams and Carolyn Curwin


Frensham Open

Following on from the Lark Youth Championships the day before, Frensham hosted its annual Lark Open with an entry of 30 boats, with many travelling up to three hours, for a day of close racing throughout the fleet. With a large fleet the Race Officer, Tim Hemsley did a great job as the wind increased and swung during the day, with the occasional use of the black flag.

In the first race, the fleet closely bunched at the first mark, with several visitors unsure of the direction to the next mark and were slow to bear away. This allowed Ian and Stephan Videlo to gybe clear of the bunch into the breeze and a clear lead. Several boats fought for second place, that eventually went to Dougal Scott and David Marlow from Harry Pynn and Richard Truscott who pulled through to third.

In race two Nigel Hufton and Chris Whitehouse took an early lead but again many place changes occurred amongst the leading boats with the very tight racing. In the end after a close fight with Michael Gifford and Kirsty Phipps and Dougal and David, Chris Ellis and Kathryn Young took first place from Dougal and David with Michael and Kirsty third.

After a break for lunch the third race got underway in a building breeze. Ian and Stephen Videlo just led at the first mark from Stuart Hydon and Hannah Showell. The Videlos narrowly survived a near capsize on the first reach. Stuart momentary took the lead before dropping his tiller extension to allow the Videlos through to lead to the end, with Stuart and Hannah second and Michael and Kirsty third.

In the final race Nigel Hufton and Chris Whitehouse was first at the weather mark, Ian and Stephen pulled through to a close second by the end of the first reach to overhaul Nigel and Chris on the next beat who finished third. Chris Ellis and Kathryn Young pulled through well to take the lead on the final lap only to be beaten on the line by Ian and Stephen who won the race and the event.

Final overall positions:
1st Ian and Stephen Videlo
2nd Chris Ellis and Kathryn Young
3rd Dougal Scott and David Marlow
4th Michael Gifford and Kirsty Phipps
5th Nigel Hufton and Chris Whitehouse
6th Stuart Hydon and Hannah Showell