Osprey National Championship at Mount's Bay Sailing Club

by Kevin Francis 9 Aug 2019 14:27 BST 4-7 August 2019

After two years at the top, the reigning Osprey National champions Terry Curtis and Pete Greig were toppled by DJ Edwards and Mikey Greig sailing the aptly named Lethal Weapon.

Between 4 to 7 August, over ten gruelling races, Mounts Bay was a fitting stage for this clash of the titans at this year’s Osprey Nationals. The wind gods were kind in supplying plenty of puff to allow these magnificent boats to spread their wings and fly, and all this in glorious summer sunshine and a backdrop that cannot be matched anywhere else.

Day 1 started off with a wobble for the new champs with a wardrobe malfunction leading to a dash back to shore for a replacement trapeze harness for Mikey, but thereafter things settled down and consistent performances got them right back in the fight. Overnight leaders were Mike Atkinson and Richard Bowers who had mastered the ‘bang hard right’ approach and once up front were super quick using Moatt Sails to keep away from any real danger.

Wednesday racing during the 2019 Osprey Nationals at Mount's Bay - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

The south westerly wind generally built each day as did the swell, while the need to change gears for the differing conditions became ever more important. This year saw an unprecedented amount of boat breakages mainly to rudder fittings but also spars and sails, fortunately thanks to generous sponsorship from companies such as Allen, Rain and Sun, Marlow Ropes, Gul, Hartley Boats, Moatt Sails, Clamcleat and Seasure no one was sidelined for long. Matt Burge and Vyv Townend lost the first day to a Jib Sheave failure and thus immediately used up their two discards, so had an uphill but very nearly successful battle eventually gaining runner up spot.

By day 3 the wind was over 20 knots and the larger teams were starting to dominate on the course. The fleet tended to split off with some heading out to sea looking for even more breeze and the chance of a favourable lift whilst more and more teams took the other option of sailing inshore towards Penzance and hooking the big lift to the windward mark some 1.5 miles from the start line. The first turning mark became a scene of controlled desperation for most as the sleigh ride down the reach commenced in gallons of foaming white water.

Wednesday racing during the 2019 Osprey Nationals at Mount's Bay - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Capsizes were surprisingly few, with battles going on right down through the fleet of 41 boats consisting of Mark 3, Mk 4, and some new Mk 5 boats, but one thing was common by the end of each day, the tired looks of the competitors. Fatigue on body and boat at Mounts Bay is not to be underestimated and nor are the redeeming qualities of a good Philps pasty.

Several teams are worthy of special note, Caroline Croft and Jon Gorringe sailed superbly in a borrowed boat making very good starts and very few mistakes to own 6th place whilst father and son duo George and Harry Odling put all the practice to good use to power another legendary boat named Infidel to 11th overall.

Wednesday racing during the 2019 Osprey Nationals at Mount's Bay - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

The highlight of the social programme was a private tour of St Michaels Mount and the chance to sample some fine wines and nibbles with fellow competitors hosted by Lord and Lady St Levan who reside in this wonderful iconic building. The Enterprise fleet was exposed to the Crazy Sheppey Raffle with plenty of prizes to go around and money raised in support of the local RNLI.

In summary, the event lived up to expectations and was the hardest Nationals for some years with a stellar list of competitors all keen to take that trophy home but there can only be 1 winner, well done DJ and Mikey. The Ospreys have been coming to Mounts Bay for 60 years and will return again in the future, the class would like to thank Mounts Bay Sailing Club and all of its volunteers who worked so hard to make the event a success, Lord and Lady St Levan for their support, and to the Enterprise fleet for sharing this venue with us.

Wednesday racing during the 2019 Osprey Nationals at Mount's Bay - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Next year the Class holds its Nationals at Castle Cove Sailing Club in Dorset from the 25th - 28th July, why don’t you jump on board with us and experience the Osprey difference?

More information about the Osprey class at www.ospreysailing.org.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Osprey nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Pts
1	1116	Lethal Weapon	1976	DJ Edwards	Mike Greig	Tata Steel SC	(DNF [42])	1	(DNF [42])	1	1	2	2	1	2	2	12
2	1353	Callisto		Matt Burge	Vyv Townend	Poole YC	(DNS [42])	(DNS [42])	1	10	4	4	1	2	1	5	28
3	1234	Plan B		Terry Curtis	Peter Greig	Castle Cove SC	‑8	5	‑7	6	2	1	5	5	3	4	31
4	1198	Blue Moon	1981	Angus Hemmings	Adam Bowers	Castle Cove SC	3	10	2	4	3	(BFD [42])	(BFD [42])	4	7	1	34
5	1352	String Driven Thing	2012	Piers Strong	Phil Angrave	Poole YC	9	6	3	5	8	3	6	7	‑15	(DNF [42])	47
6	1281	White Knuckles		Caroline Croft	Jon Gorringe	Blithfield SC	5	3	6	8	‑12	7	‑20	8	5	8	50
7	1298	Barking Mad	2000	Michael Atkinson	Richard Bowers	Poole YC	1	2	9	2	16	5	‑21	‑21	16	3	54
8	1290	Swiftwun	1997	Martin Cooney	Peter Frith	Poole YC	(DNF [42])	9	4	3	6	11	(BFD [42])	3	10	9	55
9	1322	Peek a Boo	2006	Andy Barker	Stuart Maunder	Swanage SC	4	7	(DNF [42])	‑14	7	10	4	11	4	10	57
10	1280	Obsession		Colin Stephens	Steve George	Mounts Bay SC	2	4	8	(DNF [42])	(DNS [42])	15	9	10	8	7	63
11	1085	Infidel	1975	Harry Odling	George Odling	Plymouth University SC	11	8	5	11	9	‑12	7	6	6	‑12	63
12	1311	Oh Spray!		Chris Gould	Nick Broomhall	Blithfield SC	6	12	10	7	‑25	6	3	9	17	(DNF [42])	70
13	1296	Whitestar	2000	Kevin Francis	Phil Male	Castle Cove SC	13	11	20	9	5	(BFD [42])	14	(DNF [42])	9	6	87
14	1363	Robbers Alley	2016	Alistair Raynard	Rob Burdekin	Carsington SC	16	14	12	‑17	11	8	‑25	15	12	15	103
15	1276	Jennifer	1995	Dan Jackson	Jaime Bohata	Tenby SC	7	15	‑19	12	13	19	13	13	‑25	16	108
16	1291	Waimanu	1998	Alex Willis	Nick Willis	Hayling Island SC	14	‑17	16	13	14	16	12	‑22	14	13	112
17	1348	Jammy Dodger		Oscar Chess	David Charles	Mumbles YC	10	13	11	31	15	17	(BFD [42])	(DNF [42])	11	11	119
18	1373	Great White	2018	Richard Marshall	Steve Watson	Poole YC	12	18	21	‑28	19	13	‑27	19	18	14	134
19	1337	Mara		Robert Shaw	Ian Little	Kielder Water SC	15	20	13	‑23	21	21	15	16	‑28	18	139
20	1364	The Cutter	2016	Russell Wheeler	Mark Mawhinney	Isle of Sheppey SC	‑32	‑34	26	15	27	9	10	12	22	24	145
21	1372	Mellow Yellow	2018	Mick Greenland	David Downs	Isle of Sheppey SC	18	16	‑27	24	23	20	19	14	23	‑25	157
22	1314	Think Again		Viola Scott	Michael Scott	Kielder Water SC	26	22	22	‑34	20	18	11	28	13	(BFD [42])	160
23	1338	Curved Air	2008	Ken Brown	Chris Butters	Isle of Sheppey SC	17	(DNF [42])	23	21	17	22	(BFD [42])	29	20	17	166
24	1369	Dark Matter	2017	Roger Blake	James Blake	Great Moor SC	24	21	17	18	22	24	(DNF [42])	‑25	19	21	166
25	1350	WARNING...Contains Nuts	2012	Alec Mamwell	Arthur Butler	Coniston SC	22	‑25	25	25	18	‑27	16	17	24	20	167
26	1299	Georgia		Adam Ellery	Thomas Ellery	Mounts Bay SC	20	23	14	22	(DNF [42])	23	8	(DNC [42])	DNF [42]	19	171
27	1207	Schiaffino		Andy Hattersley	Richard Hattersley	Poole YC	25	28	‑32	19	(DNF [42])	30	17	20	29	22	190
28	1326	Shameless	2007	Mike Stace	Deanna Stace	Tenby SC	27	26	24	‑33	26	25	18	18	‑34	27	191
29	1367	Silver Machine	2017	Alan Henderson	Tim Bowden	Prestwick SC	19	24	15	20	28	(DNC [42])	(DNC [42])	DNC [42]	21	DNF [42]	211
30	854	Flying Machine		Richard Packer	Andrew Morrice	Bristol Corinthian YC	31	‑35	31	26	24	26	23	23	‑33	28	212
31	1357	Last Orders	2014	Paul Roberts	John Clark	Portishead Y&SC	30	27	30	‑35	32	28	24	26	‑37	26	223
32	1362	OMG	2016	Emma Stephenson	Pete Lloyd	Weymouth SC	(DNF [42])	19	(DNF [42])	16	10	14	DNC [42]	DNC [42]	DNF [42]	DNS [42]	227
33	1374	Ride Like the Wind	2018	John Shenton	Steve Offer	Wilsonian SC	29	29	18	29	29	(DNC [42])	(DNC [42])	DNC [42]	27	DNF [42]	245
34	1368	LOL	2017	Steve Leney	Paul Hollis	Blithfield SC	21	30	29	(DNF [42])	(DNS [42])	DNC [42]	DNC [42]	DNC [42]	26	23	255
35	1329	RAM		Thomas Chadfield	Peter Slater	Blithfield SC	34	36	(BFD [42])	27	30	32	26	(DNC [42])	32	DNF [42]	259
36	1316	Uzi Jane	2006	Nigel Young	Darren Hamilton	Bristol Corinthian YC	33	37	34	36	(DNS [42])	(DNC [42])	22	24	36	DNF [42]	264
37	1341	yLost	2009	Will Chrichton	Jon Batt	Ribble CC	36	39	35	32	31	29	(BFD [42])	27	(DNS [42])	DNS [42]	271
38	1345	Hakuna Matata	2010	Chris Davies	Lorraine Bell	Carsington SC	23	33	28	30	(DNF [42])	(DNC [42])	DNC [42]	DNC [42]	35	DNF [42]	275
39	1325	Seaing Red	2006	Robin George	Nicola George	Great Moor SC	35	38	37	(DNF [42])	(DNS [42])	31	DNC [42]	DNC [42]	38	29	292
40	1114	Just Pogo		Keith McDonald	Andy Brittain	Small Heath YC	28	31	36	(DNF [42])	(DNS [42])	DNE [42]	BFD [42]	DNC [42]	30	DNF [42]	293
41	1206	Dr Jeckell & Mr Hyde	1983	Dave Bourne	Richard Burton	RYA	(BFD [42])	32	33	(DNF [42])	DNS [42]	DNF [42]	DNC [42]	BFD [42]	31	DNF [42]	306