1958 National Championship Report

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Category: Past Event Reports

Published: 19 March 2020

Last Updated: 19 March 2020

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From Light Craft Magazine August 1958 - supplied by Alec Mamwell

The first annual championships for 17ft 6in Osprey Class were held in Saundersfoot Bay South Wales, on June 7th & 8th. Twenty-two boats competed and Tony Phillips, in Stardust, won the Daily Telegraph Points Cup for the best performance in three races.

Conditions were boisterous for the Martini Trophy race on Saturday, with gusts of over 20 knots. Stardust and Jabberwock (S Edwards) led at the weather mark, but were overtaken on the run by Nebulus (Ian Proctor). This was the pattern  throughout the race, Nebulus with lighter crew gaining on the run, but losing again on the beat and fetch. Stardust was firmly established in the lead on the second round and Nebulus planned past Jabberwock and Ballerina (L Edwards) to finish second, when the wind free alightly on the final fetch to the finish.

The wind had eased to about 15 knots for the Saundersfoot Cup race the next morning. Peter Gartrell, present champion of the National Redwing class, led in Wendy at  the first mark, but Nebulus passed her on the next reach and opened away throughout the race, to finish well ahead. Wendy and Stardust had a close battle for secondplace. Wendy coming to the finishing line just ahead, but passing the limiting mark on the wrong side and so giving second place tp Stardust.

With a first and second each, Stardust and Nebulus then tied on points and the last race was an exciting duel between them. Nebulus lead all through the raceuntil the final beat, when Stardust, sailing very well to windward, slipped by 100 yards from the finish, thus winning the Proctor and Daily Telegraph Trophies.

Results

Daily Telegraph Points Trophy

1st Stardust A Phillips

2nd Nebulus Ian Proctor

3rd= Jabberwock S Edwards

3rd= Ballerina L Edwards

Martini Trophy

1st Stardust

2nd Nebulus

3rd Ballerina

Saundersfoot Trophy

1st Nebulus

2nd Stardust

3rd Wendy P Gartrell

Proctor Trophy

1st Stardust

2nd Nebulus

3rd Jabberwock

1972 Welsh & Midland Championship

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Category: Past Event Reports

Published: 19 March 2020

Last Updated: 19 March 2020

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Welsh & Midland Championship, Penmaenmawr YC, 23rd & 24th September 1972

Penmaenmawr Yacht Club on the North Wales coats were host to the National Osprey Class for their second annual Welsh & Midland Championship. This picturesque spot provided superb sailing water and over 30 visitors joined the local fleet to give a total entry of 37.

Right from the beginning of the weekend it was clear that skilful sailing on the beats would pay, because the Force 4 Easterly wind, blowing parallel to the shore was fiercely distorted as the gusts swept down the narrow valleys in the mountains rising up sharply from the shore line.

Despite the good breeze, Saturday’s race was sailed in hazy sunshine and misty conditions. Nick Houlding in ‘Swingalong’ nearly won the practice race but was pipped at the post by Nat Eynon from Steel Company of Wales SC in ‘Blue Moon’. Eynon gained considerably from this outing when it came to the first race, for he hugged the shore and played the shifts carefully to lead at the windward mark and keep this place all the way round. Davis Poole from Filey in ‘Nympholepsey’ followed Eynon, but those who chose to go out to sea were not so lucky. The leading group mistook the wing mark for the windward mark and disappeared into the mist and out of the race. Tony Davies in ‘Eyr y Mor’ challenged Poole at one stage but had to be content with third place behind him.

Endless windshifts delayed the start of Sunday’s races. In the first race of the day, Trevor Mucklo from Mounts Bay SC in ’Pschitt’ made a good portend start and headed out to sea, tacked on to port and laid the windward amrk well ahead of the fleet, who were still tacking up the shore. William Olivers in ‘Guzunda’ and Vernon May in ‘Swan Song’ were next but lost places on the following spinnaker run. Here, Poole and Gerald Iddon from Glasson in ‘Nutcracker’ took the leeward routewhich paid handsome dividends, Mucklow was still ahead at this stage, but the third beat coincided with the tide changing and he missed out badly by pursuing his solitary course out to sea letting Poole and Iddon through to be followed in third place by Oliver.

The final race was comparatively short, held in a dying breeze. No sooner had the gun sounded than the wind headed dramatically enabling boats starting at the starboard end to lay the windward mark in one tack. John Clarke from Chase in the ‘Flying Machine’ made a clear start and although challenged by Poole kept clear. Alistair Mackay from Steel Company of Wales SC in ‘Darcy’at last found form to maintain third place, whilst Eynon, who need to win this race to take the series, made a poor start and never recovered.

Top Six
1st 880 ‘Nympholepsy’ D Poole Filey SC
2nd 854 ‘The Flying Machine’ J Clarke Chase SC
3rd 198 ‘Blue Moon’ N Eynon Steel Company of Wales SC
4th 853 ‘Pastyoureyes’ R Plowright Filey SC
5th ‘Double Trouble’ M Walter Ogston SC
6th 870 ‘Guzunda’ W Oliver Ogston SC

Wanted - New Membership Secretary & Treasurer

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Category: News

Published: 14 January 2020

Last Updated: 14 January 2020

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Meet your Hon Treasurer & Membership Secretary
 
Hello everyone. For those that don’t know me, my name is Kevin Francis and I am the current class treasurer and membership secretary, I am the one wiggling the stick on our beloved Osprey ‘Whitestar’ sail number 1296.

When we reach the 2020 Nationals I will have been in post for 7 years, so will be looking to hand these rolls onto someone new with fresh ideas. My role involves handling the money that comes into and out of the class accounts and justifying this each year at the AGM, suggesting ways in which to use these funds and also making sure that the money is spent wisely whilst protecting the fund for future years. I work closely with the Chairman and other committee members.

The role of membership secretary dove tails into the treasurer role as a large proportion of the membership pays by standing order; therefore I need to see the accounts to keep the membership up to date. We have an average of just over 100 members at any one time so the job is not too demanding.

Another roll that I carry out is the issuing of Class Measurement Certificates for new owners, this is a free service to class members. I also arrange the distribution of newsletter’s and other correspondence by post.

Finally I also attend regular committee meetings either in person or via a group telephone call.

I started sailing when I was 13 years old at my local reservoir Sutton Bingham just outside of Yeovil, my first ride was on a Marauder dinghy and from that moment I was hooked. I began like many on a Mirror Dinghy then a Topper and then a Laser, I crewed a 420 then helmed a 505 for a few years and also had a mad moment and bought a low rider International Moth, I teamed up with Phil Male in his 505 before discovering the Osprey where we have stayed ever since. A truly great boat.