Osprey Welsh & Midlands Championships at Blithfield Sailing Club

Opsrey Welsh & Midlands Championships at Blithfield Sailing Club © Don Stokes

Opsrey Welsh & Midlands Championships at Blithfield Sailing Club © Don Stokes

Was it all about the hair or did the air come into it as well?

Rarely does one look at a set of results from a class open meeting and get any great sense of what actually went on unless you were there or you have some insight into the people taking part. This weekend was no different and some explanation might well be sought, which I have attempted to give below. Those who have bothered to read any of my reports over the last year will know they rarely have much in them about sailing. Having said that I will endeavour to add something about the sailing particularly the more amusing bits.

Tomorrow morning Pickering & Priddle (with Wives and a daughter) head off for the 505 world championships in Barbados, where our old friend and fellow Osprey sailor, (now sailing Gypsy) Robin Hobson eagerly awaits their arrival so he can show off his new 36 foot floating home.

What, you may ask, has this got to do with the Welsh & Midlands event. Oddly enough the results this weekend were directly affected by the meticulous planning of this great pilgrimage to the 505 mecca. If you look at the results carefully you'll see that Messrs Pickering & Priddle had challenging weekend. It is fair to say the wind was difficult, shifty, light in patches and required a good start at the right end of the line in the hope that you would get lucky and find yourself popping up in front at the first mark.

However, I have a theory on the Mikes' results and the clue is in the title of this article. Mike Priddle, in preparation for the 505 worlds, paid a visit to the waxing salon were he requested they remove every last shred of hair from his body apart from his head and soles of his feet. This was an exercise which took some time because he's covered in the stuff. He told me the idea behind this excruciatingly painful exercise was so he didn't overheat in the Caribbean sun and to raise money for charity. My theory however is he wanted to be more streamline in the water when he is swimming after the 505 when he's swept off the deck at 25 knots with the big kite up! Ultimately I think the hair removal has weakened old Dibble and this affected his performance this weekend. Beware of the law of unintended consequences!

Willy Crichton on the other hand has grown a magnificent mop of hair and dyed it peroxide blonde. Willy, for those who don't know him, is the youngest looking 95 year old Scotsman I've ever met and the extra hair clearly made him strong and cunning which produced a much admired 4th in the 3rd race ably crewed by Keith Byres (with normal hair)

It was really nice to see Ted Lewis & Matt Goldwait from Tenby at their first Osprey event outside Wales this weekend. I hope they enjoyed meeting everyone. Welcome chaps, great to have someone else on the circuit. Hope to see you at Mounts bay in two weeks (try and bring some of your fellow Tenby gang with you). Don't forget your passports!

Ted & Matt were slightly surprised to see one Osprey towing a duck behind it in the pre start and I expect thought they were in with a chance against these guys who's boat is named "Contains Nuts". Never underestimate Dave Springett, he is the master of light shifty conditions. He sails with an extremely upright mast and rarely misses a shift. Dave, crewed by Jonathan Osgood posted two good results on Saturday giving them a 4th overall. Osgood looked well, he said he'd been on holiday but it was clear after a shower that it was actually a spray tan, which explains the patchiness. Jonathan, being in a spray tanning booth it's like sailing in light air, keep still!

Basher Marshall was up to his old tricks again this weekend. He was overheard in the bar describing a coming together with someone at a mark rounding. Basher said he didn't think it really mattered because he discovered later they were both OCS on a black flag start! Basher! The turns were good as well in the opposite direction around the same mark just as 10 boats were going the right way round. I can see why Pete offered to drive to the event. Basher, roundabouts are clockwise! He finished the weekend off by bursting out of the fire door of the changing room dressed in a small towel much to the surprise of the club racers rigging their Merlins, the door closed behind him and he had to return to the changing rooms via the bar. Basher!

This weekend's very popular winners were Mark Hartley & his father Dorian Gray! We haven't seen them on the circuit for 18 months and Richard was looking younger and fitter than ever. Apart from a swim with Priddle and Pickering in race three they made no mistakes and just piped the Young Apprentice, Chris Gould & old Bick Boomhall by one point. Great to have you back in the fleet with a fully pimped boat and body. Don't let Priddle tempt you with a wax!

It was also good to see the youth policy continues to develop with Harry Odling crewing for his Dad George. Harry welcome to the fleet. There was also a new Yorkshireman at the front of Mark Westons boat. Tim Kieghley was attracted by the boats new name "60 is the new 40"! Keep using the cream Mark!

As always Blithfield SC put on a fantastic event. Bill Watson did a wonderful job as race officer and was completely unphased by the constant changing wind direction. The hog roast was completely wonderful, loads of hard work from the friendliest sailing club in the world! Thanks everyone.

Other news form the Osprey fleet. Will Odding was the fastest Osprey sailor in the London Marathon today. Mrs George (wife of Stevie George) posted the fastest time for a wife of an Osprey sailor. Stevie couldn't make it to Blithfield because he was on hand at the marathon with his performing enhancing gel in case of stiffness.

See you at Mount's Bay for the Southerns Area Championship on the 3rd May.

Overall Results: