Osprey Class 2022 Season begins
by Huw Pearce 28 Mar 2022 19:29 BST
The Osprey Welsh and Midlands Championship takes place at Blithfield © Don Stokes
The class are looking forward to a successful season of sailing to follow-up the positive vibes from visitors to the class stand at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show and the 45 boats that participated in the 2021 National Championship. Fifteen entries have already been received for the 2022 National Championship being hosted by Porthpean SC in Cornwall.
There is a class boat that can be borrowed under a loan agreement and it has been well used during the past 12 months by a variety of different sailors; several who are new to the class and we look forward to these sailors finding their own Osprey.
The 2022 season starts with three events in April and continues through to October when the final event, Scottish & Northern Championship hosted by Carsington SC, closes the season.
The first event on the 2nd & 3rd April the Blithfield Open is a popular event in the class. Blithfield SC look forward to welcoming visitors old & new. The Saturday night hog roast and local beers from the barrel are always well received by the competitors. The Saturday night partying has in the past had a result on the Sunday sailing results! This event will test the early season boat handling skills with lots of mark rounding practice and spinnaker handling exercise.
The following weekend, 9th & 10th April, the Welsh & Midland Championship is hosted by Tata Steel SC in South Wales. This is the first of the five Championships in the class. This venue can also prove challenging depending on the wind direction. The home boats look forward to welcoming other South Wales based boats and those from father afield. It will be 40 years since the club hosted their first Welsh & Midland Championship back in 1982 and the 9th held at the club. There will be a social at a local venue on the Saturday night.
The first coastal event of the year will be a return to Hayling Island SC after an absence several years on 23rd & 24th April. How will a returning Osprey helm get on sailing with his son in a well known and successful Osprey they bought over the winter? They at least know the local waters well! As do a father & daughter team, as both crews are members of Hayling Island SC.
The class extend a welcome to anyone interested in the Osprey to come to any of the events to watch the racing and talk about the boat.
2022 Events:
April
2nd/3rd Blithfield Open Meeting
9th/10th Tata Open Meeting - Welsh & Midlands Championship
23rd/24th HISC Open Meeting
May
1st/2nd Kielder Open Meeting - Dam to Dam. Sunday/Monday event
7th/8th Mounts Bay Open Meeting
21st/22nd Poole Open Meeting - Southern Championships
June
25th/26th Tenby Open Meeting - Combined with Tenby Regatta
July
9th/10th Weymouth Open Meeting - Combined with Weymouth Regatta
August
27th/28th Burnham Open Meeting
September
3rd-6th NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, Porthpean SC, Cornwall
24th/25th Sheppey Open Meeting
October
8th/9th Carsington Open Meeting - Scottish and Northern Championships