Snakes and Ladders as Ospreys hunt the wind at Kielder

Osprey Dam to Dam races at Kielder Water © Angela Mamwell

The first of a treble of Osprey opens was sailed at Kielder Water, comprising full length Dam to Dam races on successive days, with the Ospreys competing as a class within a mixed handicap fleet. A few sailors had arrived early, to practice, or just to gaze upon the wild Ospreys visible on their nesting posts and hunting fish for their dinner.

But not many feathers were flying in first day's light winds. In the calms half way up the lake, the nine strong Osprey fleet found itself in close company with such unlikely bedfellows as a Laser 2000, an Aero and a Dart 18, as all boats struggled to escape the calm stretches. But at least, the final beat offered a slightly steadier breeze. The finish was exciting with a very biased pin end causing a few more place changes within the closing meters. After 2 hours 20 minutes of racing, there was only 5 minutes between the first and last Osprey!

In a race which was never likely to break any records, Alex and Nick Willis (Hayling Island) somehow recorded a maximum speed for the day of 12.4 knots, with an average speed of 3.8 knots. Former Kielder sailors Viola and Mike Scott picked their way best through those tricky calms to win, from Alex / Nick Willis, and Coniston's Alec Mamwell / Arthur Butler. Overall, a great and varied day's sailing, with a rare treat with all boats having been last and first at some point throughout the race.

The second Dam to Dam race day started with promise of a little more breeze, which held sufficiently to give a good beat up the first leg of the reservoir.

The majority of the fleet headed to the left hand side of the lake, with a couple of punters taking a flutter on the right. Once the first corner of the lake was rounded, a minor boat park formed, with all Ospreys in a line. A small gust pushed the fleet closer together, ready for the final short tacking push to the top mark, as the lake narrowed at the far end. Kielder's Rob Shaw / Ian Little led at the top from Alan Henderson/ Alastair Barrie of Prestwick, with Rob Burdekin / Alistair Raynard from Blithfield third.

Downwind the fleet split again, with another concertina effect at the dog leg on the lake - all boats were within approximately 20m first to last. Snakes and ladders were the game of the day, with most people finding a hole at least once on the run down, but Rob Burdekin / Alastair Raynard burst into the lead on the downwind.

A fabulous fetch to the finish line provided the most wind of the day and the highest speed, with all Ospreys on the plane flat out to the finish. Burdekin / Raynard held on to win, with Stewart Murdoch / Sandy Bremner of Royal Tay, second, and Mamwell / Butler taking another third. Moving average through the race was 4.6 knots, with a more modest maximum speed of 10.7 knots.

Overall Results: