Osprey Open and South Wales Series at Tata Steel Sailing Club
by David Downs 4 Nov 2015 06:54 GMT
31 October - 1 November 2015
Four Ospreys from the home club were joined by three visitors from Tenby and Bristol Corinthian to make up easily the biggest class at the Tata Steel Regatta on 31 October / 1 November, and were thus given a class start.
On a weekend of unseasonably warm sunny weather and gentle breezes the Ospreys enjoyed six races with close racing throughout. The Saturday racing belonged to Ros and David Downs in Osprey 1114 clocking up two firsts and a second, while by lunch on the Sunday Oscar and Lisa Chess in Osprey 1348 had recorded two first places.
Thus it was that the results and the series all hinged on the sixth and final race on Sunday afternoon. With the pressure on there was a general recall which meant that the Ospreys would start after the general handicap fleet and have to work their way through the other slower boats. The three leading boats Oscar and Lisa Chess, Ros and David Downs and Ted Lewis with Lucas Boiscevain (Osprey 1342, from Tenby) all arrived at the windward mark together and it was close all the way round. In the end Oscar and Lisa held on to win the event with Ros and David second and Ted and Lucas third.
The Tata Regatta was the final event in the South Wales Osprey Circuit and also in the eight event South Wales Grand Prix series, promoted by RYA Wales. 16 boats entered at least one of the South Wales Osprey series which was duly won by Oscar and Lisa, one point ahead of Ros and David. Third were Mike and Pam Murray, with Andrew and Rebecca Jenkins fourth. All the top four were married couples sailing together.
The South Wales Grand Prix for handicap racing also went to Oscar and Lisa Chess with Ros and David Downs second. This Grand Prix series is promoted by RYA Wales to encourage adult sailing in South Wales and to encourage travelling between clubs. Could this Grand Prix series be a model for the RYA in other Regions?
Following the prize giving Oscar Chess gave a great speech noting that Ospreys are the growing fleet in South Wales and that with at least two new Mark V Ospreys being destined for the area early next year, it can only get better. He encouraged everyone to get an Osprey and take part in the Nationals at Mumbles in August next year, "You know you want to!".
Overall Results: (top three)
1. Oscar and Lisa Chess (Tata SC) 7pts
2. Ros and David Downs (Tata SC) 9pts
3. Ted Lewis and Lucas Boiscevain (Tenby SC) 11pts
Full results of Tata open at www.corussailing.org.uk and for the South Wales series at www.ospreysailing.org/cms