2008 UK National Championships Report

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 October 2008 11:01 Written by Administrator Sunday, 20 July 2008 07:41

2008 UK Osprey National Championships

The Chartwell Private Client sponsored 2008 Osprey UK National Championships started at Poole Yacht Club on Saturday 19^th July, with an entry of 51 boats, and finished on 22^nd July. This is the first time in a few years that the class has broken the 50 boat nationals barrier.

Martin Cooney and Peter Frith retained the Osprey National Championship by taking the right decision to not follow the predicted optimum course on the final beat to break free from Richard and Mark Hartley, clinch second place and the title by the narrowest of margins.

Whilst a massively disappointing result for the Hartleys having led into the final day, the fleet has huge gratitude to them for deciding to back the class culminating in this rejuvenation and surge of interest from outside. As Richard stated at the AGM, 51 boats entered was one hell of an achievement.

The effort from Poole Yacht Club members was fantastic, providing a “buddied” accommodation package for all new to the class (and more) meant that virtually no visitors paid for accommodation making it far more economically appealing. Better than that, they organised for the weather gods to provide the complete gamut of conditions, testing the snakes and ladders of fortune that made the whole event enjoyable and unpredictable.

At the start of the final light wind, double tide day, the Hartleys were 2 points ahead and along with Cooney / Frith were carrying a fourth place as discard. The fleet waited on the water for 2 hours for the wind to fill in, the committee boat upping sticks twice and this led to the Hartleys unfortunately missing the 5 minute gun whilst upwind of the start checking conditions They spinnakered down to the line, dipped it and started just on time to discover at the end that they had been Z flagged and were carrying a 10 place (20%) penalty. Meanwhile Cooney and Frith had sailed the perfect race in trying conditions to register a first place. Game on for race 7. The Hartleys needed to win the race or come second with Cooney and Frith 2 places behind. From a poorish start, they broke right and worked their way through to the front. The final beat saw them choose the predicted correct course, tussling with Steve Goacher which led to Cooney and Frith gaining ground and with a downwind finish the 3 of them crossed the line within spitting distance, Goacher, Cooney, Hartley.

The standard of racing this year was superb and whilst Cooney / Frith and the Hartleys held the spotlight, Steve Goacher sailing with Andy Tunnicliffe in Wally Gardeners beautifully maintained 1114 had recorded 3 wins but had to count an eighth and similarly the aging rock stars Angus Hemmings and Adam Bowers had won a race and only left the exalted quartet on a couple of ultimately expensive occasions.

Photo by Angelo Spencer-Smith

There were many highlights in the event, Nicola George crewing her father at 14 years old in all conditions and loving it. John Bowden back this time with Richard Bowers crewing, again only 14, this year sacking his father as crew, so Tim helmed another boat. Lots of new faces, lots of returning faces including Trevor and Monica Brown, Monica being the bikinied reception committee handing the sailors a beer each in return for tallies and at the prizegiving handing over the goodies bedecked in latex and stocking (photos on the class website to follow). Adam Bowers pulling Blue Moon over single handed to windward with the kite up. Peter Frith doing the same thing but recovering just to finish a couple of places down but still in third. Mike Pickering getting a birthday candle in his bread and butter pudding. Mark Taylor shimming the mast on 1318 to adjust trapeze wires with no wind and 49 other boats willing the boat to fall over. The boat park assistance to keep all boats out there but overall it was the camaraderie and the sight of 50 Ospreys in full flight, in a blow on the sea.

Roll on Mounts Bay for 2009 – July 23^rd to 26^th – beg steal or borrow a boat and get it in your diary!

Reports have been posted on the Yachts & Yachting website; Day 1 , Day 2 and Day 3 with photographs taken by Sailing Scenes. Results.

Photographs by

Mike Millard (35 photogaphs & 4 videos)

Angelo Spencer-Smith (click on 2008 Photos - 197 photographs)

Sailing Scenes (595 photographs)