Fast... you would not believe!
Osprey Sailing
Osprey Sailing
Welcome to the Osprey Class website.
The Osprey is mainly sailed in the UK but has been sailed in many parts of the world. Enclaves of Ospreys outside the UK are in Vancouver Canada, Lagos Nigeria and Mombasa Kenya. There used to be many boats in Singapore.
The class would welcome being contacted by owners, past owners or those who have sailed an Osprey wherever they are in the world.
The Osprey is a big, fast sailing dinghy with a single trapeze and a symmetric spinnaker.
Designed by Ian Proctor, the Osprey is sailable in all but the most extreme weather conditions, whether inland reservoir, tidal rivers or mountainous seas.
The Osprey is a well behaved and balanced boat, suitable for racing or cruising, and may be sailed by a crew of two or three. She comes with a spacious interior, giving a generous space to its crew. A choice of hull materials, fittings and layout, rig and sails allow competitive pricing.
Over the years, there has been some development in hull shape and construction, and carbon masts, booms and spinnaker poles are now allowed. Nonetheless, it is the ethos of the class that the hull shape and sail plan remain true to the designer’s original concept.
The class’s policy of gradual development means that old boats still compete successfully at the top end of the fleet against modern examples. This is a very rare attribute in other classes, so it is no wonder that many sailors enjoy the challenge of finding and preparing an old wooden example to compete with the best. Others prefer to purchase a modern example by builders Hartley Boats, with a more standard layout, needing little pimping or tuning to be competitive.
Many Ospreys are sailed by couples, and the introduction of carbon rigs mean that the class now suits lighter weight pairings as well as heavy weight teams.
It is a boat which is quick on all waters and all winds, while in heavy winds and big seas, it is a boat which really looks after you.
Osprey's do not become obsolete
The Osprey Class have a boat available for crews to borrow under a loan agreement. The boat is now a Hartley MkVI, sail number 1385, with full carbon-fibre rig. This boat was handed over to the class by Mark Hartley of Hartley Boats at the 2024 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show on 25th February 2024.
The class boat will be going to Poole Yacht Club for shake down trials with the leading Osprey sailors at the club, before being used by youth section of the club. A Poole Youth team will be chosen to have use of the boat at the 2024 National Championship being hosted by Poole YC.
We need to look to the future of the class and the new blood that can be welcomed into the Osprey family. The details (application form and loan agreement form) on how to acquire the boat for a defined period are available. The forms can be filled in electronically, but with Google Chrome browser when you save a completed form it does not save the information you have entered. This is not much good. So on Microsoft Windows systems, download document and open with either Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Edge browser.
The Osprey Class Committee are actively looking for crews to take her on and join us. If you know of a suitable crew then get in touch with your committee members or local Osprey representatives.
The previous class boat was used by several different crews, could you be next!
The previous class boat, Osprey 1360 a MkV, was the overall winner of the 2022/2023 Selden Sailjuice Winter Series campaigned by Peter Gray & Geoff Edwards.
The Osprey Class Association is an association of owners & supporters of the Osprey dinghy designed by Ian Proctor. It is primarily a UK based class association but owners & supporters of the class in the rest of the world are welcomed.
The committee organise each year the UK National Championship and an open meeting circuit. The committee also liaise with the builder, Hartley Boats, maintain the class measurement rules, issue measurement certificates and try to maintain (keep up to date) the register of boats and the owners of said boats.
The Osprey Class Association invites you to join.
2024 Membership Application Form
Here are some of the things which the Association does on behalf of its members;
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Organises class circuits and Championships
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Organises training days
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Communicates with members and public via Class website, Forum and Facebook etc
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Publicises the class in yachting press and websites, and at the RYA Dinghy Show
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Provides measurement certificates
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Maintains class records and trophies
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Advertises Ospreys for sale
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Underpins the value of your Osprey
When you are racing your boat you need a valid Measurement Certificate. For the Measurement Certificate to be valid you need two stickers from the Osprey Class Association; one for your measurement certificate and one for the transom of your boat. These stickers are issued annually on payment of the appropriate membership fees.
On change of ownership a new measurement certificate must be obtained. A new certificate can be obtained from the class secretary [secretary@ospreysailing.org.uk]. Please if possible send a copy of the existing certificate with your request for a new one.
To compete in National and Area Championships one member of the crew should be a Full Member and the other crew member must have at least Associate Membership.
The membership categories and fees are as follows:-
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Full |
Open to Owners or Joint Owners (no more than 2 per boat) of an Osprey. Eligible to helm or crew an Osprey in any race, attend and vote at AGM's or EGM's and become an Officer or Committee Member. |
£40 |
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Member |
Open to anyone except owners of an Osprey. Eligible to helm or crew an Osprey in any race provided the boat belongs to a Full Member, attend and vote at AGM's or EGM's and become an Officer or Committee Member. |
£20 |
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Associate |
Open to anyone who does not own an Osprey, also to the second joint owner of an Osprey. Eligible to attend and vote at AGM's or EGM's, but not on financial matters or the Measurement Rules. May not become an Officer or Committee Member |
£15 |
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Student |
Open to anyone engaged in full-time education at the time of annual renewal of membership. |
60% of appropriate rate from above |
Note the membership year is the calendar year and annual subscriptions fall due on January 1st each year.
Upcoming Events
- Southern Area Championship - Mounts Bay SC
- Keilder Dam to Dam
- Hayling Open
- Scottish & Northern Championship - Coniston SC
- Coppet Week - Saundersfoot SC
- CVRDA Regatta - Roadford Lake SC
- Welsh & Midlands Championship - Tata Steel SC
Southern Area Championship & Panmorra CupSaturday 4th & Sunday 5th May 2024
Mounts Bay SC look forward to welcoming Osprey sailors to possibly the favourite venue of the class. Event page Mounts Bay SC website with Notice of Race. |
Racing on day two of the 2009 Osprey Nationals at Mount's Bay © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk |
5th & 6th May
Keilder Water SC look forward to Osprey sailors taking part in this epic race.
11th & 12th May 2024
Hayling Island SC look forward to welcoming Osprey sailors to this open meeting.
Entry form is now available on the Hayling Island SC website.
25th to 27th May 2024
Coniston SC welcomes the return of the Osprey Class to the club and are very pleased to host the Championship again.
Sunday 26th to Friday 31st May 2024
Saundersfoot SC look forward to welcoming Osprey sailors to the event. In 2023 seven Osprey teams took part in the event and the Saundersfoot & Tenby Osprey sailors woud be very pleased to see more attending.
The Notice of Race has been issued.
Upcoming Events
20th & 21st July 2024
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Welsh & Midlands Championship
Osprey Dinghy Show Video (3-minute video)
Osprey Round The Island Race 2023
Future National Championship Venues
Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September 2024
Dates yet to be confirmed as tide influenced.
Dates yet to be decided.
Awaiting confirmation of venue and dates yet to be decided.
Saturday 2nd to Tuesday 5th September 2028
South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (Abersoch) to host the Osprey Class Nationals in 2028.
Awaiting confirmation of venue and dates yet to be decided.
The Osprey Class are grateful for the continued support of:
Hartley Boats love with the Osprey started over fifty years ago when I was invited as a youngster to crew for Wally Gardner, an excellent sailor, at his local club. Thrilling, exciting speed and challenging, the beer tasted twice as good. “Crew for me at the Nationals" asked Wally. “No, I am not experienced, I will let you down”. Wally’s response was, “I will look after you, you will be OK”.
Racing Dinghy Insurance for your Osprey, New for Old, Comprehensive, Plain English Policy, designed for use in the UK
