Osprey Nationals at Poole Yacht Club - Overall

A spot of mast climbing at the national champs © Robin Hobson

Robin and Nicola George at the National Championships © Mike Millard

National Championships - Day 2 © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.co.uk

Martin Cooney and Peter Frith retained the Osprey National Championship by taking the right decision to not follow the predicted optimum course on the final beat to break free from Richard and Mark Hartley, clinch second place and the title by the narrowest of margins.

Whilst a massively disappointing result for the Hartleys, having led into the final day, the fleet has a huge gratitude to them for deciding to back the class culminating in this rejuvenation and surge of interest from outside. As Richard stated at the AGM, 51 boats entered was one hell of an achievement.

The effort from Poole Yacht Club members was fantastic, providing a “buddied” accommodation package for all new to the class (and more) meant that virtually no visitors paid for accommodation making it far more economically appealing. Better than that, they organised for the weather gods to provide the complete gamut of conditions, testing the snakes and ladders of fortune that made the whole event enjoyable and unpredictable.

At the start of the final light wind, double tide day, the Hartleys were 2 points ahead and along with Cooney / Frith were carrying a fourth place as discard. The fleet waited on the water for 2 hours for the wind to fill in, the committee boat upping sticks twice and this led to the Hartleys unfortunately missing the 5 minute gun whilst upwind of the start checking conditions They spinnakered down to the line, dipped it and started just on time to discover at the end that they had been z flagged and were carrying a 10 place (20%) penalty.

Meanwhile Cooney and Frith had sailed the perfect race in trying conditions to register a first place. Game on for race 7. The Hartleys needed to win the race or come second with Cooney and Frith 2 places behind. From a poorish start, they broke right and worked their way through to the front. The final beat saw them choose the predicted correct course, tussling with Steve Goacher which led to Cooney and Frith gaining ground and with a downwind finish the 3 of them crossed the line within spitting distance, Goacher, Cooney, Hartley.

The standard of racing this year was superb and whilst Cooney / Frith and the Hartleys held the spotlight, Steve Goacher sailing with Andy Tunnicliffe in Wally Gardeners beautifully maintained 1114 had recorded 3 wins but had to count an eighth and similarly the aging rock stars Angus Hemmings and Adam Bowers had won a race and only left the exalted quartet on a couple of ultimately expensive occasions.

Races 6 & 7 as seen by Nicola George

Before the first race of the day we had a long delay as we were waiting for the wind to pick up and for it to stop shifting. The racing was in the harbour with line starts. Once the wind filled in the race started, it was interesting beating between the moored boats to the windward mark. The race was 2 laps and we finished in 38th place.

The 2nd race started with a good breeze but half way down the 2nd beat it started to die and by the 3rd beat there was no wind and we ended up drifting!! After half an hour filled in and good reach to the finish line.

Some people were so happy to finish they jumped in the water to celebrate!! The prize giving was good fun, I was really pleased with how we did and I really enjoy racing the Osprey.

Highlights

There were many highlights in the event, Nicola George (14 years old) crewing her father in all conditions and loving it. John Bowden back this time with Richard Bowers crewing, again only 14, year sacking his father as crew, so Tim helmed another boat. Lots of new faces, lots of returning faces including Trevor and Monica Brown, Monica being the bikinied reception committee handing the sailors a beer each in return for tallies and at the prizegiving handing over the goodies bedecked in latex and stocking (photos on the class website to follow).

Adam Bowers pulling Blue Moon over single handed to windward with the kite up. Peter Frith doing the same thing but recovering just to finish a couple of places down but still in third. Mike Pickering getting a birthday candle in his bread and butter pudding. Mark Taylor shimming the mast on 1318 to adjust trapeze wires with no wind and 49 other boats willing the boat to fall over. The boat park assistance to keep all boats out there but overall it was the camaraderie and the sight of 50 Ospreys in full flight, in a blow on the sea.

Roll on Mounts Bay for 2009 – July 23rd to 26th – beg steal or borrow a boat and get it in your diary!

Many thanks to our sponsors – Chartwell Private Client, Hartley Laminates, Harken UK, Hyde Sails and Gul and once again to all of the people in Poole YC who worked their socks off to ensure we all had a good time.

Overall Results: