Osprey Welsh and Midland Champs at Blithfield Sailing Club

The Osprey Welsh and Midlands Championship takes place at Blithfield © Don Stokes

The Osprey Welsh and Midlands Championship takes place at Blithfield © Don Stokes

Eighteen Osprey crews competed at Blithfield Sailing Club for the now legendary two-day open meeting event held over the weekend of 18th/19th April 2009.

Although the wind was forecast light, competitors were pleased to see a 10-12 knot breeze on Saturday morning; and when the sun appeared in the afternoon it made for pleasant sailing conditions on day one. With the use of the dreaded “Black Flag” on only one occasion, the Race Officer, Chris Guy and his team overcame the shifting wind conditions to put in five good races without protests.

The local Osprey boat builders Hartley/Hartley sailing their hastily fitted out new MkIV (only finished the previous day) started out in Race 1 as they meant to by overtaking Will Odling/Peter Frith in Swifton (1290), who had been first to the windward mark, and subsequently won the first two races. This was despite being involved in a collision with Swiftwun, when most of the fleet decided to form a raft on the approach to the first leeward mark in Race 2, which resulted in plenty of bumping, boring and shouting for water throughout the fleet. The fact that the Race Officer had made specific reference to the new 3-boat length ruling for such events seemed to have been in vain! Viola and Mike Scott in Think Again (1314) came off worst being on the inside line were forced the wrong side of the mark, much to Viola’s displeasure, which lead to a bit of a “to do” back in the club house, where Viola was brandishing (and filling out) a protest form! However, following some calming words from her other half and a quick lie down in a darkened room, Viola decided that a preferable option was to turn frustration and anger into speed on the water and went on to win Race 3 ahead of the Hartley’s. The win was assisted somewhat by Richard Hartley leaping out of his craft whilst leading the race, during a particularly determined tack on the final leg of the race.

Some other competitors decided to improve their swimming technique too by missing the toe straps or unhooking themselves from their trapeze wires (well it was the first event of the season). Particular credit went to a local young crew, Josh Crosby, sailing in an Osprey for the first time, with David Springett in Fish for Tea (1329), who was awarded a special “Best Diving” award at the prize giving. One dip was just not enough for young Josh who left David to cross the finishing line single-handed!

After a lively social on Saturday evening, which went on into the small hours involving a rather delicious pig and gallons of real ale, the competitors woke to much reduced wind and increasingly shifty conditions on Sunday. The Hartley’s however, proved not to be phased and went on to be second in Race 4 behind a rather calmer but increasingly speedy Viola Scott and then won the final race ahead of Dave Carroll/Jonno Baker in Doris (1302).

Hartley/Hartley won the event comfortably on points although the sailing had been extremely competitive throughout the fleet.

Overall Results:

1st Richard/Mark Hartley, 1338 (RYA)
2nd Viola/Mike Scott, 1314 (Kielder WSC)
3rd Will Odling/Peter Frith, 1290 (Poole YC)
4th Rob Shaw/Ian Little, 1317 (Kielder WSC)
5th Dave Carroll/Jonno Baker, 1302 (Deben SC)