Hydon & Biglin win Frensham (again!)
Stuart Hydon and Anne Biglin won the Frensham Lark Open on Sunday 8 April 2018, winning the prestigious trophy which now has been awarded for 50 consecutive years! 
Following a training session (see separate post), 11 boats braved the drizzle and calm to sail in 3 races.
In race 1, Chris Ellis and Judith Young looked like they would roll Nigel Hufton and Matt Wood however Hufton/Wood managed to squeeze ahead just to windward of Stuart Hydon and Ann Biglin. At the end of the first leg Hydon/Biglin made a dash(!) for the right hand side giving them an advantage coming into the mark. Also pulling through was Nigel and Fiona Denchfield who rounded second from the same area. From there the positions where decided.
After an impromptu visit by Lark designer Mike Jackson, Race 2 saw Chris and Kate Holliman lead round the first mark first. Unfortunately, they planted themselves between 2 RS200s which had parked up at the first mark and started 5 minutes earlier. This allowed Hydon/Biglin to squeeze through. Hufton/Wood also took advantage of the situation and stayed high and left on this leg giving them first call on the breeze but never quite catching Hydon/Biglin. Positions remained in that order to the finish.
Race 3 was a short race with Hydon/Biglin again leading from the start. Chris and Kate Holliman pulled through to second and held that position to the finish with Shaw/Carruthers behind them.
Thanks go to Frensham Pond SC for hosting the weekend and in particular holding their nerve waiting for the wind to come in on Sunday.
1st, 2528, Stuart Hydon and Ann Biglin, Shustoke SC, 2
2nd, 2475, Chris and Kate Holliman, RYA, 5
3rd, 2538, Nigel Hufton and Matt Wood, FPSC, 5
4th, 2459, Nigel and Fiona Denchfield, Grafham Water SC, 7
5th, 12, Phil Whitney and Lynda Williams, FPSC, 8
Lark training a success.
Lark sailors from across the fleet came to listen to Clive Eplett - ex-Larkie, top sailor, coach and sailing author on 7th April. Clive passed on his wisdom before the fleet launched and put it into practice in a race. A post-race video debrief provided practical feedback - and entertainment - before the fleet retired to the pub for dinner.
