Lark Dinghy - Single-handing?

[Lakesailor]

For speed, my clinker boat is a bit heavy and needs a fair old breeze.
Anyone sailed a Lark much.
Any good for single handing? I'm about 75Kg and don't like stooping under booms too much.

 

[PeteCooper]

I have single handed a Lark and to be honest I found it a bit of a handful. I liked it very much when crewed though.
We'll not talk about the time I cleated the main at the back of the centreboard case where I couldn't reach it, leaned out quite happily, then the gust hit me

 

[Lakesailor]

Ah. Thought it may be a bit marginal. The one I saw has a bit of a baggy main as well.

 

[Pasarell]

Larks

About 35 years ago as a young sailing instructor I used to singlehand in Larks a lot. Up to about F3 it was fine, then got a bit of a handful. Can't remember how much I weighed then but certainly less than 75kg and a lot more agile than now. In light airs I used to join the club races without the rudder on, steering by sail trim and moving my weight - a lot of fun when your competitors are distracted trying to tell you the rudder has fallen off! Can't remember too much more except that you need to keep your weight well forward.

 

[jac]

Sailed them a lot at Uni

but sadly that was 20+ years ago and memory going now i've reached early 40's!!

As others have said - excellent when crewed. ( Unless the helm misses the toe straps when tacking and goes straight over the side backwards)

Singlehanded - basically forget it in any breeze - I'm sure you could make it work but far easier to buy a proper singlehander in the first place.

 

[DJE]

Sort yourself out a small mainsail or put a slab reef in the baggy old one. It will be a comfortable boat to sail and a quick slippery hull. Used to team race in Larks many years ago at university.

 

[Alfie168]

I sailed Larks......30 years ago....Great boat, it was based on a National Twelve hull shape and stretched out to 14ft. You will capsize unless you sail it reefed. Very light compared to an Enterprise.

Tim

 

[Lakesailor]

I'm sure you could make it work but far easier to buy a proper singlehander in the first place.

That sounds like good advice. It's not that couldn't find crew, it's just that I will often decide to go for a sail and be down at the boat within 10 minutes. I'm not great on forward planning.

 

[Searush]

I've got a battered old Minisail that you could happily leave in the bushes until needed. That should fly - but you will need to be prepared for a dunking now & then.

 

[Lakesailor]

My basic precept is that a boat's purpose is to keep me and the water apart.

 

[dunedin]

The Lark has a tendency to scoop up a lot of water if let heel too far - a problem if roll tacking too energetically when racing, but also I suspect a bit of a liability singlehanding.
As others have said a proper single hander may be better. But one option could be a 420 as it has relatively modest sail area and quite high boom.
Youth racers use a trapeze, but needs a gale and kite up to be needed for two adults so should be reasonable singlehanded

 

[riojasailer]

Lark/Turtle

Our Lark had a hollow mast which filled up in about ten seconds so any capsize quickly made her a Turtle instead. Not helpful single handing although it did make me very nippy over the gunwale and back again.

 

[Searush]

My basic precept is that a boat's purpose is to keep me and the water apart.

I have always felt that the Giles quote "Don't get your feet wet" neatly sums up the difference between cruising boats & dinghies.

Most single handers are designed to be "lively" & that requires extensive leaning out, balancing & ducking very low under the boom. If you don't like that, I suggest you stick to your recently repurchased clinker tub - a proper gentleman's boat.

I love my Laser but only ever sail it in a wet suit, even if I don't always fall in, the possibility is ALWAYS there, & it does sometimes actually happen.

 

[Seajet]

Lakesailor,

I noticed a thread or two back you'd considered a Miracle; think that might fit your criteria ?

Lots of cheap ones about esp. E-Bay, though I agree 100% with your views on sails, condition & cost - a cheap boat in good nick may allow for new / decent sails though with a very good end result...

Edit; just thought of another ideal boat; how about an Otter ? A friend had one he singlehanded, he was around 13 stone I'd guess, never looked like capsizing.

I sailed that and other Otters, think they're great, and able to take 2 of course; the later one my chum had was a little gem.

 

[SHUG]

A Lark is good fun and quite reasonable for single -handing in light conditions.
It is however quite weight dependent and I remember sinking the lee gunwhale when 26stone of combined weight was tryng to keep it upright in a Force 5.
Like all performance dinghies it has to be sailed within its limitations.

 

[RichardTaylor]

Having capsized at least 3 different Larks at different times 25+ years ago my main memory is of the stern sinking,ending up on a lee shore and having to get towed off by the rescue boat.

I also recall pulling another half sunk one onto the river bank and racing another on a lake in very strong winds and doing a complete down wind leg whilst chinese jybed.....

 

[Lakesailor]

That's the problem on the lake. It can go from no wind to 20mph in a matter of 3 or 4 minutes. One of my videos shows that.

I'll stick with my clinker for the moment. It'll sail amongst the white caps with no problem.

If something daft without the need to bend double under the boom shows up I may be tempted. I do have wet suit, but am not a natural when it comes to falling off.

(funnily enough, having bought back my clinker dinghy, I did notice my trimaran on the web a bit ago. Maybe I should have bought that back as well)

 

[Iain C]

Like all performance dinghies it has to be sailed within its limitations.

Hmmm, I really would not consider a Lark to be a "performance" dinghy any more!

 

[BlackwaterLad]

420 or Solo?

I’d like to add another word for the 420.

If you buy a really old one (the ones with an open deck configuration) they have an option to move the mast forward , abandon the jib and sail as a single hander with just the mainsail.

It’s quite clever really. A second set of chain plates mean you do not need new shrouds. The mainsheet block mounts on the boom slide along so can be repositioned. Ours even came with a mainsheet that was long enough to allow for the increased travel.

If you buy and old boat it will probably come with an old sail that you can cut down if you really wanted to and once you’ve done that there will be scope to raise the gooseneck until there as much room under the boom as you want.

Also, the Solo is a popular choice for “Fat boys’ Topper” at our club

 

[Searush]

(snip)
Also, the Solo is a popular choice for “Fat boys’ Topper” at our club

I also have an old Solo. It is almost as fast & agile as the Laser, has more room under the boom & looks & feels like a "proper boat" that you can sit in. I have used it for taking young (age 7) g-kids out across Bala Lake & back. They enjoyed it with a reasonable amount of speed/ excitement & less apparent risk of capsize due to the higher sides & deeper/ wider footwell.

But the Solo still needs quick responses in the gusty conditions associated with mountains, trees & lakes, and I wouldn't sail it in cruising clothes - definitely still a wetsuit & bouancy aid boat rather than a jumper, jeans & auto lifejacket one. Think carefully about what you wish for, Phil - or have a loony boat & the gentleman's craft as well so you can choose to suit your mood.

GP14, wayfarer/ wanderer are probably more suited to the cruising style, but are all likely to be as heavy as what you have & a handful if solo in gusty conditions due to limited portability of portable ballast.