Lark (dinghy)
| Lark | |
|---|---|
|
File:Lark2462.jpg Lark 2462 "Mr Bigglesworth" | |
|
80x80px Class Symbol | |
| Current Specifications | |
| Crew | 2 |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | Fiberglass |
| Trapeze | No |
| LOA | 4.065 metres (13.34 ft) |
| Beam | 1.642 metres (5.39 ft) |
| Hull weight | 95 kilograms (210 lb) |
| Main & Jib area | 9.75 square metres (104.9 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 7.4 square metres (80 sq ft) |
| RYA PN | 1073 |
| Development | |
| Year | 1966 |
| Designer | Michael Jackson |
The Lark is a two-person, non-trapeze sailing dinghy, designed in 1966 by Michael Jackson (who was also responsible for many National 12 and Merlin Rocket designs). All Larks are made of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). The Lark is a one-design class which leads to very close racing.
The boat is very popular in the UK with a new builder (Ovington boats) signed up in 2010. In the UK the class became very popular through the university team racing circuit. The boat was also popular in clubs as it is suited to a wide range of crew weights, typically from 18 stone up to 25 stone. It is still one of the fastest non-trapeze dinghies available.
National Championships are held every year in the UK. Entries to the Nationals in the 1970s and 1980s was typically 125 plus boats and although numbers have dropped still typically attracts 50 plus boats to the Nationals.
This class is well known for it's social events and the Masters continue this tradition with an event every two years.
In the United States, Larks are sailed at several east coast universities, including Tufts and Bowdoin. The Tufts fleet has carbon rigs. The Lark is by far the fastest and most powerful dingy sailed in colleges, however due to high cost (over $9000) compared to 420s (~$6000) and Flying Juniors (~$5000), higher fragility due to their light weight, and higher chances of serious collision due to speeds reaching up to 25 knots in some instances, they are losing popularity. Tufts is likely to be the only college using them in the near future due to vigorous efforts on behalf of the team, which does most of the glass work and repairs itself.
College sailing is intended to train people to represent our country in the Olympics, sharing the same model as many other collegiate sports. The 470 is far more powerful than the collegiate 420, but quite similar to the Lark, making the Lark an ideal junior boat for the 470. The Lark also shares skiff like characteristics with the 49er, another Olympic class, making the Lark an ideal boat for collegiate sailing in relatively flat water conditions, which is roughly 70% of all the college venues.
External links
UK Sailing Clubs with Lark Fleets
- Frensham Pond Sailing Club Home Page
- Northampton Sailing Club Home Page
- South Staffs Sailing Club Home Page
- Waldringfield Sailing Club Home Page
- University of Portsmouth (UK) Sailing Club Home Page
- University of Manchester Sailing Club Home Page
