Pevensey Bay was the setting for the latest round of the Lark open circuit over the weekend of 12-13 June 2004.

The first two races were held in a shifty offshore force 3-4 with moderate chop. The brother and sister pairing of Sarah Richards and Nigel Wakefield led the fleet around the course in race 1. Harry Pynn and Ross Power sailed low on the first reach, which got them into 2nd place at the gybe mark. Dougal and Helen Scott overtook Pynn/Power on second reach for 2nd. On the third beat Pynn/Power got the shifts right to overtake Richards/Wakefield and Scott/Scott.

In race 2 Richards/Wakefield again led the fleet around the course. Matt White and Clare LaForge sailed over Pynn/Power on the first reach into second place. A big right-hand shift turned the beat into a fetch. Richards/Wakefield consolidated their 1st place, which they kept until the finish.

A sea breeze filled in on Sunday 13 June providing the fleet with yet more excellent conditions in glorious sunshine. In race 3, Steve Dunn and Tegwyn Roberts went right up the first beat taking them into first place ahead of Pynn/Power and Richards/Wakefield. The fleet split on the run. Pynn/Power elected to stay on starboard gybe and managed to overtake Dunn/Roberts by the leeward mark for first place.

Mark Ampleford and Lee Nankervis were quick out of the blocks in race 4. They determinedly defended their wind down the second reach, but this allowed Pynn/Power to sail through to first place by sailing low. This result was enough for Pynn/Power to take the open meeting. Ampleford/Nankervis demonstrated their upwind pace again in race 5, to score another 2nd place behind Richards/Wakefield with White/LaForge in 3rd.

Overall Results

1st, 2452, Harry Pynn and Ross Power, Waldringfield SC, 6pts

2nd, 2288, Sarah Richards and Nigel Wakefield, RYA, 8pts

3rd, 2481, Mark Ampleford and Lee Nankervis, Penzance SC, 18pts

4th, 471, Matt White and Clare LaForge, Waldringfield SC, 18pts

5th, 444, Steve Dunn and Tegwyn Roberts, Felixstowe Ferry SC, 21pts