Barnt Green Sailing Club Lark Archive Sponsored by P & B

Report on the 2007 Lark Open Meeting at Barnt Green Sailing Club held on 26th /27th May

Fifteen Larks appeared over the bank holiday for the annual open at this
picturesque club. The practice race was held in some very light conditions,
and was won by home team Bob & Mandy Suggitt.
 
Race 1, pictured below, was held in slightly more breeze and a decent was course set.
Unfortunately the wind swung slightly to eliminate a beat. This didn’t stop the flying
Team Allen (Stuart & Julia) who, sporting a new North main took charge
of the proceedings. Despite being challenged by Smashie & Kelsey (2nd),
and Dave Young & Nic Booth (3rd) ran away comfortable winners.

 
The Single Handed race was up next and proved to be as humorous as ever.
Bob Suggitt showed his experience appearing at the front of the fleet along
with Dave Young and Chris Biglin expertly flying their kites on their
own. Dave proved to be multi-talented and stormed off to take the trophy
leaving Bob in 2nd and Chris 3rd .
 
On to Sunday and much more wind for race 2. A nice 3-4 gusting 5. The
fleet got off to a good clean start and it was Smashie & Kelsey leading
at the 1st mark from Bob & Mandy who challenged for the lead, but once the
leaders had the spinny up they powered off and continued to pull away throughout
the whole race building a healthy lead. Behind the front pair was very exciting
racing with place changes all the time. Chris & Ann Biglin snatched 2nd
with Chris Whitehouse & Chris White climbing to 3rd.
 
After lunch Race 3 was away with the same course. Smashie & Kelsey again
showed some coolness to appear at the front again, this time battling hard
with Dave & Nic. The leaders eventually pulling clear, to grab a convincing
regatta sealing victory! Dave & Nic took a solid 2nd place with Chris &
Chris showing consistency ending in 3rd place.
 
Race 4 saw arguably the most action of the weekend! Smashie & Kelsey didn’t
compete so the race for the lead was exciting with place changing all
the way through the race. Chris & Ann found themselves in a good lead only
to be blown in on a broad spinnaker reach! Then Chris & Chris took control
before they too decided to go swimming! Eventually Stu Hydon & Hannah Showell
sailed a smooth race to take the bullet (securing 3rd overall) just ahead
of the chasing Steve Chatten & Nicola Attwood. Dave & Nic took 3rd to seal
2nd overall. Commiserations to Chris Whitehouse who snapped a brand new
mast in this race as the gust strength increased. 
Top 5 positions.  
1st 2487 Richard Bennett & Kelsey Suggitt (Staunton Harold) 4pts
2nd 2507 David Young & Nic Booth (South Staffs) 8pts
3rd 2503 Stuart Hydon & Hannah Showell (Shustoke) 9pts
4th 2495 Chris Biglin & Ann Biglin (Shustoke) 11pts
5th 2411 Chris Whitehouse & Chris White (Ranelagh) 15pts

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2006 Final Lark Class Report, (Autumn) written by George Puttock, retiring Class Captain       

  Class Captain : George Puttock. 2006

2006 Final Lark Class Report, (Autumn) written by George Puttock, retiring Class Captain       

Since the last newsletter, we have increased the number of Lark sailing members in the club and would like to welcome Steve Sedwell & Barbara, Richard Powell and Ben Julian to the club. In addition, it is also pleasing to see that on occasions, some of the existing members are taking one or two of the club Larks out. Perhaps we may be able to tempt them into the fleet in the not to distant future?   Over the summer, 3 Barnt Green boats ventured to the National Championships held in Penzance. Bob and Kelsey Suggitt, Steve Cumley with his crew Eluned Jones, and Maia Walsh and her friend Caroline Stocks, who had chartered George Puttock’s boat for the occasion. By all accounts, the wind created some interesting sailing for all 55 boats entered, with force 4 / 5 wind strengths of wind throughout the week. On conclusion of the final race, Steve and Eluned achieved 5th overall position, having been the winner of the 6th race, Bob and Kelsey produced a commendable 18th place, and Maia and Caroline came 50th, although in view of the conditions achieved an amazing 25th position in the final race.  Having returned, Steve and Eluned have won the Lark National Travellers Belle Isle Trophy with 5 open meeting wins throughout the season.  

Finally, having been the Fleet Captain for the past 4 years, I have relinquished this position to Bob Suggitt and hope that this will be of sufficient distraction for me to beat him in one or two races at least.  

Thanks, George.

Lark Class Report  Summer 2006

Photo taken at the 2005 Open Meeting

Kelsy Suggitt, as well as sailing her Laser around the country (see *News, Sailing Successes & Results), has done brilliantly well  with a 2^nd placing behind the National champions at our own Club Open. Dad has also been out and about sailing in a number of other club Open meetings and most of our own Club Opens including the Laser Class – and that was a first!  Newsflash : *Kelsey was 12th in group at the Laser 4.7 Worlds - Female.

We had a reasonable turnout at the Club Open meeting over the weekend of the 13^th / 14^th May, boosted by an additional 5 boats on the Sunday, bringing the total number up to 19.  Saturday’ weather was fun, the 1^st race, the practice one, was restarted on the track a few times, when the wind stopped, all the fleet seemed to be attached to a piece of elastic, leaders moved, then stopped pulling the rest of the fleet back up towards them, only to start again. The rest of Saturday had more wind with lots of holes in it, plus rain. The best conditions were for the single handed race in the late afternoon, in which Bob pulled up to 2^nd on the final beat just behind Steve.