Craftinsure Osprey UK National Championship at Poole Yacht Club

Craftinsure Osprey UK National Championship at Poole Yacht Club - Days 1 & 2

by James Ross 6 Sep 11:54 PDT 5-8 September 2024

2023 Osprey Class Nationals: 2023 National Champions Matt Rainback & Phill Angrave sailing Osprey 1353 `String driven Thing`, © Peter Hickson

Day 1 of the 45 boat Osprey Nationals, being hosted by Poole Yacht Club from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September 2024, started with rigging in heavy rain.

By the start of race one it was still raining. First races were sailed in the harbour, once away it was quickly clear that pin end and a an early tack got you near enough the lay line to carve a chunk out of the rest of the fleet. Ben McGrane &and James Ross in 1340 'Beastly Whizzer' were first round the windward mark and had a good battle for a couple of laps until Matt Rainback & Phil Angrave in 1352 'String Diven Thing' wriggled through at the weather mark, where it was raining.

Matt Burge & Vyv Townend 1353 'Calisto' worked hard to get to 3rd spot at the finish where it was still raining.

Race 2 some heavy rain had now set in and an increasing breeze.

Ben & James and Matt & Vyv took the pin again. Matt & Vyv tacked and took some big ducks to head right into the favoured tide. They looked a good way ahead from what could be seen in the rain but were slowly reeled in by Matt & Phil who seemed fast on all points of sail. It was hard to see much in the rain but the yellow boat, Phil Meakins & Richard Anderton in 1347 'Pipe and Slippers', clearly made it to 3rd until Ben & James slid through as the wind faded to 5 or 6 knots. The rain didn't fade.

A green 'supa' food smoothie - photo © Osprey class

There were other boats sailing but hard to see in the rain.

The fleet headed back to the shore in rain, packed up in rain and headed to the bar in rain.

Everyone seemed in good spirits in what will probably become known as rainy Thursday for years to come.

Visibility was very limited at times & it was very wet, bailers were required to get rid of the rain water. It was very cold between races - certainly very memorable.

So at the end of day the 2023 National Champions Matt & Phil lead the pack having managed two bullets. Second & third have been split on last race.

Day 2 racing was abandoned at 13:00 hrs on Friday due to weather forecast being poor for wind. Looks like it was good call. Some of the competitors went out into Poole for coffees and someone ordered "A green 'supa' food smoothie".

The wind strength (or lack of it) in Poole today - photo © www.pooleyc.co.uk

The top 4 teams will be hosting a Q&A after the Class AGM on Friday evening plus provide help and advice on racing tips & boat set up.

The Class gratefully acknowledge the support of Craftinsure, Hartley Boats, Allen Brothers, Clamcleat, Fernhurst Books, Robline and Seasure

Results after Day 2:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Builder	Helm	Crew	Club	Nat	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1	1352	String Driven Thing	Hartley	Matt Rainback	Phil Angrave	Poole YC	ENG	1	1	2	2
2	1353	Callisto	Hartley	Matt Burge	Vyv Townend	Poole YC	ENG	3	2	5	5
3	1340	Beastly Whizzer	Hartley	Ben McGrane	James Ross	Netley SC	ENG	2	3	5	5
4	1339	Thomas Too	Hartley	Terry Curtis	Peter Greig	Weymouth SC	ENG	7	5	12	12
5	1347	Pipe n Slippers	Hartley	Phil Meakins	Richard Anderton	Warsash SC	ENG	9	4	13	13
6	1206	Indecision	Martin Creasey	Peter Gray	Geoff Edwards	Staunton Harold SC	ENG	6	7	13	13
7	1385	Six Pack	Hartley	Joe Cross	Edward Gillespie	Poole YC	ENG	5	9	14	14
8	1349	Bird of Prey IV	Hartley	Robert Shaw	Ian Little	Kielder Water SC	ENG	4	15	19	19
9	1363	Robbers Alley	Hartley	Rob Burdekin	Alistair Raynard	Blithfield SC	ENG	8	11	19	19
10	1291	Waimanu	Porter Brothers	Alex Willis F	Nick Willis	Hayling Island SC	ENG	10	12	22	22
11	1366	Burach	Hartley	Stewart Murdoch	Sandy Bremner	Royal Tay YC	SCO	18	8	26	26
12	1348	Jammy Dodger	Hartley	Oscar Chess	Simon Brewer	Tata Steel SC	WAL	15	13	28	28
13	1365	Carpe Diem	Hartley	Dave Griffiths	Maurice Clarke	Tenby SC	WAL	11	18	29	29
14	1350	WARNING...Contains Nuts	Hartley	Alec Mamwell	Arthur Butler	Coniston SC	ENG	16	20	36	36
15	1292	Light & Bitter	A Dobson / Robert Shaw	Paul Heather	Jonathan Osgood	Teignmouth Corinthian SC	ENG	23	14	37	37
16	1296	Whitestar	Andy Barker	Kevin Francis	Stuart Maunder	Castle Cove SC	ENG	14	23	37	37
17	1322	Peek a Boo	Hartley	Ben Richardson	Ed Townsend	Emsworth SC	ENG	21	16	37	37
18	1207	Schiaffino	John Claridge / Laurie Smart	Andrew Hattersley	Richard Hattersley	Topsham SC	ENG	24	19	43	43
19	1314	Think Again	Hartley	Viola Scott F	Michael Scott	Lochaber YC	SCO	19	24	43	43
20	1325	Seeing Red	Hartley	Simon George	Nicola George F	Great Moor SC	ENG	17	27	44	44
21	1356	Shippy McShip Face	Hartley	Mark Ripley	Tom Ahlheid	Paignton SC	ENG	28	17	45	45
22	1085	Infidel	W McCutcheon	Harry Odling	George Odling	Oxford SC	ENG	25	21	46	46
23	1383	Thieves Like Us	Hartley	Russell Wheeler	Mark Mawhinney	Isle of Sheppey SC	ENG	22	26	48	48
24	1336	Cariad Y Mor	Hartley	Jason Taylor	Matthew Taylor	Tata Steel SC	WAL	20	29	49	49
25	1317	The Duke	Hartley	Simon Townsend	JackTownsend	Emsworth SC	ENG	27	22	49	49
26	1290	Swiftwun	Chipstow Boatyards	Martin Cooney	Peter Frith	Poole YC	ENG	NSC [46]	6	52	52
27	1114	Just Pogo	Gardiner & Iddon	Ros Downs F	David Downs	Tata Steel SC	WAL	26	28	54	54
28	1007	Bird of Prey III	Westerly	Graham Head	Antony Shaw	Margate YC	ENG	30	25	55	55
29	1298	Barking Mad	Andy Barker	Michael Atkinson	TBA	Poole YC	ENG	NSC [46]	10	56	56
30	1382	Ghost Ship	Hartley	Roger Blake	James Blake	Great Moor SC	ENG	12	UFD [46]	58	58
31	1373	Great White	Hartley	Richard Marshall	Gareth Humphries	Poole YC	ENG	13	UFD [46]	59	59
32	1225	Pink Panther	Home built (Alfie Hawksworth)	Paul Bambridge	Carwyn Owen	Tata Steel SC	WAL	29	31	60	60
33	1360	Dreamer	Hartley	Stephen Sharp	Andy Gilding	Hornsea SC	ENG	33	30	63	63
34	1338	Curved Air	Hartley	Ken Brown	Chris Butters	Isle of Sheppey SC	ENG	31	33	64	64
35	1333	Tantrums and Tiaras Two	Hartley	Douglas Rankin	Pail Rankin	Blithfield SC	ENG	32	37	69	69
36	1319	Prey Encore	Hartley	Chris Playfair	Alistair	Poole YC	ENG	35	35	70	70
37	1326	Shameless	Hartley	Adam Southern	Jack Southern F	Emsworth SC	ENG	36	36	72	72
38	1369	Dark Matter	Hartley	Rob Southern	Freddie Southern	Emsworth SC	ENG	39	34	73	73
39	1341	Ylost	Hartley	Willy Crichton	Jon Batt	Ribble Cruising Club	ENG	34	40	74	74
40	1158	Drifty	Westerly	Tom Kift	Daniel Drummond	Netley SC	ENG	37	39	76	76
41	1372	Mellow Yellow	Hartley	Michael Richardson	Lloyd Robson	Poole YC	ENG	38	38	76	76
42	1355	Last Chance	Hartley	Ian Hart	Graham Browning	Poole YC	ENG	UFD [46]	32	78	78
43	1269	Gremlin	Porter Brothers	Alain Laing	Zoe & Louis Griffith	Poole YC	ENG	DNC [46]	DNC [46]	92	92
43	1367		Hartley	Robert Hitsch	TBA		GER	DNC [46]	DNC [46]	92	92
43	1386		Hartley	Paddy Lewis	Tom Holland	Datchet Water SC	ENG	DNF [46]	UFD [46]	92	92