The Red Square Lark Nationals kicked off on Sunday 19 August at Saundersfoot in Camarthen Bay with bright sunshine and a superb 12-knot westerly breeze.

Two trapezoid races were sailed in the offshore breeze. Beth and Fergus Condie were pathfinder for the first race. A right-hand shift on the first beat favoured the boats who had started late, with Richard (“Smashy”) and Jenny Bennett leading at the first mark. The Bennetts led for the first two laps, but were overhauled by Chris Fish / Natalie Bannister, and Richard Dowsett / Rachel Jones on the beat at the start of the final lap. With Fish / Bannister losing out at the top mark, Dowsett / Jones went on to take the race with the Bennetts second and Fish / Bannister third.

The second race began with a line start, with the starboard end slightly favoured. Pete Vincent / Tegwyn Roberts started at the starboard end to lead at the first mark, closely followed by Dougal and Nigel Scott. They held these positions down the run, but the Scotts gained the lead on the second beat. The Scotts extended their lead around the trapeziums, leaving a battle for second between Vincent / Roberts and Emma Harris / Helen Woodward. Vincent / Roberts held second to the end, leaving Harris / Woodward third.

Results (seven races to go)

1st 2331 Dowsett / Jones – 4.75 points

2nd Vincent / Roberts – 8 points

3rd Krailing / Suddell – 10 points

4th Scott / Scott – 10.75 points

5th Bennett / Bennett – 11 points

6th Harris / Woodward – 11 points