Report by Ian McDonald and photographs courtesy and copyright © Iain Ferguson
After an excellent Friday evening of Peter Slaters curry and extensive assessment of Holdens beer, the Osprey fleet of 16 were greeted on Saturday by light winds, 180 degree shifts and very challenging sailing conditions.The huge experience of OD Bill Watson supported by Margaret Boyson allowed two races to be run.
Race 1 saw a trend being set, with Richard and Mark Hartley winning. Cooney and Frith enjoyed their return to Blithfield in 2nd with Justin Jones and Chris Anderson getting the fleet demo boat into third.
Race 2 was won by Kevin Francis and Peter Greig with Richard Marshall and Alex Willis 2nd. Mick Greenland and Will Govid were denied a win when a re- rig during racing was required - but they held third.
The Saturday evening was the "normal" excellent deluxe Hog Roast and many extras. I am not sure how to explain the Holdens beer supply being doubled and it being all drunk an hour earlier than last years event. Certainly Team Hartley distribution of wine made the calculation easier!. We look forward to measuring this trend at next years event.
Sunday morning with proper cooked breakfast and then out into much nicer winds. The Hartleys were back at the front in race 3 chased by Alistair Reynard and Rob Burdekin. Jon Batt and Jonathan Gibbons were third. The last race saw Team Hartley settled into the lead with Cooney and Frith chasing. Third were Alistair and Rob last years Wilkinson Sword travelers trophy winners.
Having got the boat on the trolley after the last race, Richard decided to have a short rest and sit on the grass. To say he had given his win maximum effort is to understate his commitment. Nice one Mr H!
So congratulations to Richard & Mark Hartley the winners of the 2022 Inland Championship sailing the MkVI version of the Osprey, the third interation of the boat by Hartley Boats.
Other snippets from the event
- Three times Champ Nick Daily-Hunt came down to spectate prior to his attendance at the Nationals and check out some of the likely opposition.
- And amongst the multitude of sailors dogs, I won't surprise you with the winner of "best dog at the Inlands"
- Richards prize giving speech was a triumph; 3 times both feet off the ground to emphasise a point. And explaining he had no option to his win because he couldn't let his sailmaker down after making him the "best sails ever"
The next event in the season, is the Welsh & Midlands Championship being hosted by Tata Steel SC on 9th & 10th April 2022.
