Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2023 SIBS - LEADERBOARD

Snakes and Ladders as Ospreys hunt the wind at Kielder

by Osprey Class Association 10 May 14:28 BST 30 April - 1 May 2023
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:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2Pts
1st1314Think AgainViola Scott FMichael ScottLochaber YC156
2nd1350WARNING...Contains NutsAlec MamwellArthur ButlerConiston SC336
3rd1363Robbers AlleyAlistair RaynardRob BurdekinBlithfield SC819
4th1366BurachStewart MurdochSandy BremnerRoyal Tay YC729
5th1291WaimanuAlex Willis FNick WillisHayling Island SC279
6th1349Bird of Prey IVRobert ShawIan LittleKielder Water SC549
7th1367Silver MachineAlan HendersonAlistair BarriePrestwick SC4610
8th1292Light & BitterPaul HeatherJonathan OsgoodTeignmouth Corinthian SC6814
9th1114Just PogoRos Downs FDavid DownsTata Steel SC9918

Related Articles

Osprey Class Round The Isle of Wight Race
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the 1953 dinghy race around the island Seventy years ago, in 1953, the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club held a race for centreboard dinghies around the Isle of Wight to commemorate the Coronation of the Queen. It was quite a controversial event at the time. Posted today at 9:23 am
Osprey Final Fling at Blithfield Preview
A great way to close the Osprey year The final Osprey event of 2023 will be held on what many call the best racing water in the Midlands. With time for tuning and practice on the Friday afternoon, supported by great food and drink, it's a great way to close the Osprey year. Posted on 26 Sep
Something so right
Dougal Henshall looks at what makes for a good championships attendance Jack Knights coldly set out that the golden age of dinghy racing had already had its day, and by the mid-1970s he felt that that all the signs were that activity levels had peaked. He claimed to see the first signs of a downward trend. Posted on 13 Sep
Osprey Nationals 2023 at Hayling Island Overall
The 49 boats finished in glorious sunshine and good breeze The 2023 Osprey Class National Championship finished in glorious sunshine and good breeze. Thank you Hayling Island Sailing Club for arranging the weather for the 4 day Championship, at which 49 boats celebrated the 70th year of Osprey sailing. Posted on 8 Sep
Osprey Nationals 2023 at Hayling Island Day 1
A fleet of 49 boats gathered in the sunshine A fleet of 49 boats gathered to participate in 2023 Osprey National Championship in the class 70th Anniversary year at Hayling Island Sailing Club. Posted on 3 Sep
Osprey Nationals 2023 Runners & Riders
Fifty boats are headed to Hayling Island The Osprey Class Nationals, in the 70th Anniversary year of the Osprey Class, are being hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club from 2nd to 5th September 2023. Fifty boats are headed to the venue from all over the UK for the 8 scheduled races. Posted on 1 Sep
50th anniversary of Coppet Week at Saundersfoot
Close and competitive sailing combined with wall-to-wall sunshine Saundersfoot Sailing Club celebrated a great milestone, the 50th anniversary of Coppet Week, SSC annual regatta. 52 crews signed up to race in what turned out to be incredibly close and competitive sailing. Posted on 12 Jun
Osprey Open & Southern Championship at Poole
A little behind the Contenders and Fireball's report A little behind the Contenders and Fireball's report as yours truly decided to escapade to France for a week, but it's alright as we were the fastest on the water (although that didn't stop them trying to sail through us)! Posted on 4 Jun
Osprey Scottish & Northern Tour at Royal Tay
The final act of the trilogy: Who wore the crown on Coronation Day? After successive two day regattas at Kielder and Lochaber, the Osprey squad on the 70th Anniversary Tour set their satnavs for their final destination, Royal Tay Yacht Club. Posted on 14 May
Osprey Scottish & Northern Tour at Lochaber
Bamboozled by back to backs! Open meetings were coming thick and fast on the Osprey 70th Anniversary Tour of Scotland and the North, and after a hard sail at Kielder on May 1st, it was time to pack up and start the 5 hour drive to Fort William, Britain's Outdoor Capital. Posted on 11 May