Osprey 2022 Welsh and Midland Championships at Tata Steel Sailing Club

Competitors at the Osprey 2022 Welsh & Midlands Championship © Huw Pearce

Osprey 2022 Welsh & Midlands Championship - the event winners during race 2 © Huw Pearce

Osprey 2022 Welsh & Midlands Championship - race 2 course board © Huw Pearce

The Osprey 2022 Welsh and Midland Championships was held at Tata Steel SC on the 9th and 10th April. After a two year absence due to Covid the Osprey Class were very pleased to return to Tata and experience the club's excellent hospitality.

Eleven boats gathered on the Saturday morning, to be greeted by strong Welsh sunshine and a bitterly cold North Westerly force 3 to 4 blowing across the lake. I think most of the competitors were pleased to be sailing their Ospreys and felt for the Race Committee and Safety Boat crews who must have been frozen. The first race was started in a Force 3 to 4 with local hero DJ Edwards sailing with Vyv Townend in Vyv's Championship winning boat showing the way to do it and leading throughout. Dave Griffiths & Maurice Clark in 1365 (using 1367 sails) their newly acquired Mark V were in hot pursuit and showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with. Local team Mike and Pam Murray finished in a very impressive third place showing that you don't necessarily need a big man on the wire.

After an excellent lunch the wind had got up somewhat for race 2. DJ & Vyv again took an early lead with Oscar Chess & Charlie and Ros & David Downs in 2nd and 3rd. An unfortunate capsize on the second beat for team Downs and failure of the shroud adjusters on Oscar's boat allowed Dave & Maurice through into second with Emma Stevenson and Pete Lloyd coming third.

After two long races in challenging conditions this early in the season there were some tired bodies in the boat park, but it was amazing how the carvery at the Twelve Knights and copious quantities of beer revived everyone for an early start on Sunday.

The sun was still shining but the wind, now coming from the South East still had a bite to it. Three shorter races taking in the whole of the area of the lake were held back to back in slightly less wind than Saturday but with significant gusts and shifts. DJ & Vyv continued to be the masters of the conditions while behind them Emma & Pete and Oscar & Charlie were the main contenders. Dave Griffiths with a house full of paying guests to serve breakfast to missed race 3 but returned to post a 3rd in race 4. Emma & Pete having been OCS and returning then had a spectacular charge through the fleet to finish fourth. DJ & Vyv opted to sit out the last race leaving Emma & Pete to take a well deserved win with Oscar & Charlie in second place.

Once again the Osprey fleet demonstrated its versatility with competing boats aging between 47 years and 5 years, a good range of ages amongst the crews, two lady helms and one lady crew.

The Osprey Class would like to thank Tata Steel SC for putting on this event and we look forward to returning in 2023.

Overall Results: