Shifts and gusts

Tricky conditions saw most of the Lark fleet swimming at their Barnt Green Open

In conditions that mirrored those of the Youth Championships of the previous day, plus constant heavy rain, six visitors joined the home Lark fleet to contest the annual Barnt Green Open meeting. PRO Bob Sugget and his team set a sensible figure eight course which took into account huge shifts/gusts expected during the day.

First away in race one were Dave Young and Nicola Attwood who stayed ahead of Kelsey Sugget and Josh Stuart and Ruth Johnson and Rachael Rhodes until a dunking at the first leward mark. Johnson and Rhodes opened up a huge lead over Sugget and Stuart until their rudder fell off, allowing Sugget and Stuart and the fast recovering Young and Attwood to catch up. After another lap, Young and Attwood had taken the lead which they held to the finish, Sugget and Stuart taking a well deserved second (the only dry team in the race) and Johnson and Rhodes third after a capsize.

Race two started in similar conditions to race one. Again Young and Attwood were first round the windward mark, followed by Sugget and Stuart and Chris and Ann Biglin. First the Biglins' capsized, followed by Sugget and Stuart, leaving Young and Attwood to take an unasailable lead to the finish. They were followed home by Stuart and Julia Allen who sailed brilliantly dispite their lack of weight, and Johnson and Rhodes who recovered well from a cartwheel swim at the start (9.5 for artistic impression ladies).

The Open now decided in Dave Young and Nicola Attwoods favour, the fleet got away for the start of the third race in more moderate coniditions. Again, Young and Attwood lead round the first mark, but had a battle with the Biglins' until the finish, which they held on to. Ruth Johnson and Rachael Rhodes gained their third third of the day. This left three teams tied on six points.

The Lark class thank Barnt Green Sailing Club for another memorable two days of sailing, and look forward to coming back in greater numbers next year.

Results:

1-Dave Young and Nicola Attwood
2-Chris and Ann Biglin
3-Kelsey Sugget and Josh Stuart
4-Ruth Johnson and Rachael Rhodes