Osprey Scottish and Northern Championship 2025 at Coniston Sailing Club

Rob Shaw and Ian Little win the Osprey Scottish and Northern Championship at Coniston © Ros Downs

The Osprey Scottish & Northern Champions was hosted by Coniston SC as part of the 2025 Toplex / PHG Coniston Sailing Club Open Regatta on 24th & 25th May 2025. The Ospreys were part of the Fast Handicap fleet of 18 boats.

The forecast suggested that this year's Coniston regatta could be challenging, and five Ospreys, all of them Coniston veterans, seemed up for the challenge. The nature of the beast was the strong Westerly breeze which charges down off the fells in huge swirling gusts.

The Ospreys joined in with the fast handicap fleet, making a fairly busy start line of 18 boats. The Ospreys led the charge off the line, accompanied by an impressively fast Fireball, which proved extremely difficult to shake off all day.

Rob Shaw & Ian Little were first to the top mark, followed by Alec Mamwell & Arthur Butler, and they set off down the long run which the race officer had kindly laid along the East shore where the wind was cleanest. Willy Crichton & Jon Batt followed, with Viola & Mike Scott. The race officer had warned of a hidden reef somewhere on this shore.

Local knowledge was clearly the key and Alec provided it by hitting the reef.

A huge gust caused a closing of the gap and a busy approach to the leeward mark. Alec's rudder, presumably disturbed by its encounter with the reef, chose this moment to pop up, causing a splendid capsize with the kite up. Viola & Mike took advantage and finished second Osprey to Rob & Ian.

After a break for lunch, we went afloat to find that the miracle had happened and the wind had backed, arriving (relatively) cleanly, straight up the lake. This gave us two races of Coniston at its best.

Viola & Mike had a good start in the first one, but Rob & Ian were not to be denied and overtook them to hold on for the win. Viola & Mike held off Alec & Arthur who had apparently re-visited the reef. Ros & David Downs and Willy & Jon were not far behind.

In the final race of the day Rob & Ian turned the screw with a dominant performance, followed by Alec & Arthur. Viola & Mike were fading and a sketchy spinnaker drop let a resurgent Ros & David through, continuing in fine form to finish third Osprey. Willy & Jon unfortunately suffered catastrophic rudder failure.

The Osprey fleet then enjoyed an evening of magnificent Mamwell hospitality. Willy took over Alec's garage and tools to work on his rudder, emerging from time to time for refreshments. The rest of us partied and contemplated the forecast of 40 knot gusts for the next day.

In the morning the race officer was desperate to get us racing, but the weary and hung over sailors seemed somewhat less enthusiastic. In the end a guinea pig was despatched in the form of a Blaze sailor who duly reported that the conditions were sailable but not really raceable since the vicious gusts blasting down from the Coniston Old Man presented as 90 degree shifts.

The race officer reluctantly delivered the three toot salute to general acclaim. Rob & Ian won the fast handicap, with the Fireball second and Viola & Mike third. Mike had managed accidentally to go sailing with fingerless gloves and came ashore looking like Lady Macbeth, so the prize of full fingered Gill gloves was greatly appreciated.

Thanks to Coniston for delivering an excellent event and some great sailing.

Osprey Results: