2010 Scottish & Northerns, Coniston

Written by Administrator Wednesday, 02 June 2010 10:14

Coniston Sailing Club hosted the Osprey Scottish and Northern Championships over the late Spring Bank Holiday weekend, 29th to 31st May 2010. The nine competitors faced a wide variety of testing and, at times, frustrating conditions over a curtailed series.

Race 1 was sailed in a Force 1 that, from time to time, died a way to nothing. The lead changed several times during the race as first one team, then another, sailed into a hole and came to a halt. Eventually Robert Shaw and Ian Little emerged to win from Richard and Mark Hartley. Willie Crichton and Chris Saunders held off a late challenge from Paul Heather and Jonathon Osgood to finish third. With mist down to the lakeside and constant rain conditions were dire and most teams were glad to finish and even happier when the OOD abandoned racing for the day.

What a difference a day makes! Sunday was a brilliant day with sunshine and a relatively healthy North Westerly breeze which built from Force 3 to Force 5 and swung to the North over the course of the day. Despite this conditions remained tricky with holes, shifts and gusts to keep competitors on their toes. Race 3 saw a reversal of fortunes for the leading teams with the Hartleys winning and Shaw and Little in second place. Viola and Mike Scott secured a well earned third.

Race 4 saw a first and very popular race win at any Open or Championship for Paddy Lewis and David Slater although they nearly managed to blow it and let the Hartleys through at the finishing line. The Scotts, once again, secured third place.

Race 5 was sailed in a much stiffer breeze and Viola, revelling in the conditions and relishing the opportunity to show the boys just how to sail an Osprey, brought the Scotts home in fine style. Sadly a major problem with their prototype mast brought the Hartleys Championship to a premature end. Whilst Shaw and Little re-found their form in second followed by Lewis and Slater in third. Exhausted crews were dragged back onto the water to sail the rescheduled Race 2 in what turned out to be the best conditions of the weekend. Shaw and Little, after a poor start, sailed away to a convincing win followed by Lewis and Slater and Alec and Angela Mamwell in the minor placings.

Monday arrived with the promise of some breeze but shortly before the start of Race 6 holes began to appear and the fleet drifted away to complete a one lap race very slowly. Shaw and Little came through for another race win followed by the Mamwells and, after a close duel with Robin and Nicola George, the Scotts. No one was sorry when the OOD decided to abandon race 7 which left Shaw and Little as worthy Champions.

Despite sailing in such testing conditions the Ospreys, as always, enjoyed their time at Coniston and felt considerable sympathy for the OOD who’s patience was tested just as much as that of the sailors.