The following report appeared in The Cornishman newspaper dated Thursday August 20th 1970
Matthews is Champion by 2 seconds after 14 miles and 2¼ hours.
An exciting finale to the Osprey National Championships in Mounts Bay on Friday retained the title for the local club. John Matthews, sailing the Hon. John St. Aubyn’s boat The Susan, with Ray Jebbett as crew, won the trophy after a tremendous battle with his rival, Ken Robertson.
At the start of this final day, with one points race to come Matthews – winner in ‘68 – led by a quarter point on the overall ratings from the current champion Robertson of Wadebridge.
Robertson, three-times champion and a builder of these craft was sailing the The Other Mans Grass that won him the Boat of the Show award at the National Boat Show this year.
It was clear this was going to provide thrills galore.
The interest focused on this duel, with Matthews of Penzance coming home in second place just two seconds ahead of Robertson after a 14-mile course and 2¼ hours sailing.
The Osprey trophies were presented by the Mounts Bay Sailing Club Commodore, Lord St Levan at Lands End Hotel that evening. A total of 115 boats, a record, took part in the championships.
The lead changed several times in this final race with Robertson ahead early on, but Matthews taking over by a boat-length as they went into the last one-mile beat.
Neither of them won this race – this went to Tony Powell from the River Towey club – but their personal was the all-consuming issue, and the final stage again brought a change in leadership before Matthews took the slender verdict by the two-second margin.
These were the only two Mounts Bay members in the top six overall, and the nearest to them came with joint-tenth ratings by James Curnow in Zephyrus and Ian Roxborough in Nicola IV.
A poem penned Vicky Robertson wife of Ken Robertson as a view of the National Championship
“Peculiarities of Osprey Helmsmen – Mounts Bay 1970”
The helmsmen came from far, near and wide
Traveling towards Cornish countryside
Eager to reach that beautiful bay
Rig up their boats and sail away
The weather was good, it tried to blow hard
Light weather helms were on their guard
But they needn’t have feared, it turned quite light
Results were wide open by Thursday night
Sunday and Monday was great fun for two
Our friends Donald and Peter Agnew
But the two of them had an air of gloom
For they suffered the fate of a broken boom
I almost forgot another great boy
Who goes by the name of Neville Noye
He to broke a boom in this blowy race
And that was the downfall of Mount Bay’s ace
He rose from his sick bed and gallantly tried
But twas clear by Wednesday that his chances would slide
So then he relaxed and turned off the heat
Retired on Friday to watch the last beat
I’ll bet a sixpence no one would think
That James would be beaten home fro a drink
But David had used Mebyon’s old sails
Which just goes to prove that they’ll stand some more gales
There really should be a prize for our Rex
He just cannot stay with his rump on the decks
Each day he capsized as he touched the beach
When to unhook is what Ian should teach
Ken Cattran proved to be quite a dark horse
Wednesday showed he could sail a good course
Thursday he boobed after taking great risk
Found he was fourth but with no safety disk
“Swan song” for the week was Vernon May
They put a wreck notice on his boat one day
On Friday he made an excellent start
And though he was first to the Windward mark
“Schhh – You know who” milled around on the line
Decide the weather was really quite fine
A quick spot of fishing thought Sid with glee
And sure enough caught a big mackerel for tea
To all who have helped make it such a success
There must have been dozens – I really can’t guess
We thank you and say we’ll come back once more
But “The Other Man’s Grass” needs a blow of force four
John and Raymond are the boys to watch
On “The Susan” there’s another winning notch
Kings of the class both helm and crew
We wish lots more luck to both of you
