Report by Kevin Francis and all on water sailing photographs courtesy and copyright © Stacey Bray
All competitors confirm that the summer is now officially over….
After the amazing run of hot weather and light winds, often making open, national and world sailing events frustrating in the UK, the forecast for the Ospreys looked solid, unfortunately a little too solid as it turned out.
Using the band Queen as the reporting medium:
Saturday (day 1)
A healthy turnout of boats from Mk II through to the latest Mk VI were assembling on the green and in the dinghy park as the usual fever pitch boat preparations began. Several crews decided to walk boat and trailer down the steep hill shouting don’t stop me now as they went. Camping was in the car park just across from the club and everything looked to be in order and convenient. A quick walk down the slipway gave the first indications that trouble was coming with a strong on shore breeze and a steep surf onto the short beach as the tide rose.
As launch time approached, we watched the committee boat, a large yacht position herself whereby an extended period of radio ga ga ensued between them and the shore. The feedback from this communication was that the yacht could not hold station in the strengthening breeze and rising sea state. The launching also looked more precarious than earlier. With the forecast set to worsen the race team were under pressure to call it. Time passed slowly but inevitably there was a breakthru although not a good one with racing abandoned for the day.
This did provide the chance for everyone to catch up, some would say a seaside rendezvous and after a few beers staring out at the rugged Cornish coast most agreed that these are the days of our lives. Alternative plans were made with some staying and some going out for the day. 2 teams even decided that a little practice in the breeze was in order and so they left to ride the wild wind with lots of bystanders watching in awe as these magnificent machines smashed out to sea headlong into the impressive waves.
Sunday (day 2)
The race team and pretty much everyone at Porthpean and nearby had been studying the vast range of forecasts and rightly made the decision to get afloat early to avoid another misfire and to try and complete 3 races to secure a series. The committee boat was holding and all was looking good, with the wind strangely light. Everyone was by now very keen to get going and boats were quickly assembled on the beach. The launching was still difficult due to the left over swell and ironically not enough breeze to power up. With the help of the local shore team and the competitors all boats were away safely. Mutterings of sail away sweet sister were heard from those left behind.
Once clear of the shore and settled down everyone went through the usual drills and adjusting to the waves with crews reminding helms ‘don’t try so hard’. Passing by the committee boat to declare that now I’m here. At this point a local pod of common Dolphins showed up which was a welcome distraction. All races would be conducted under the black flag to avoid delay and the class was respectful of this throughout. Banging right paid off and as most headed for the cliffs the lift that would be coming soon brought many smiles to the helms in that area. The windward mark was soon reached with most of us over standing somewhat with the tide playing its part thus it was time for the hammer to fall and to crack off and blast to the mark as fast as you could. Matt Burge and Vyv Townend had produced a kind of magic to lead away to a commanding position from first time Osprey Nationalists Peter Gray and Geoff Edwards using the class boat and long-time fleet exponents Martin Cooney and Peter Frith.
Race 2 and everyone was now familiar with the right hand path. This time it was Martin and Peter who engaged footing mode and disappeared into a comfortable lead early on. Hot on their heels was the new pairing of Caroline Croft and Mikey Grieg who were only going to get faster as the breeze filled in. Part way through this race this pairing went over the top of Kevin Francis and Simon Hawkes with Mikey’s casual body language confirming that this was not a battle that could be won. Previous National champions Terry Curtis and Peter Grieg were now finding form and secured a 3rd place finish with Burge and Townend back in 4th.
Race 3 and by now the wind and sea had decided to wake up with surfing waves and full trapezing all of the time. The experienced teams were now consolidating the positions and visibility was becoming an issue in the troughs with several invisible man encounters up the beat leading to crash tacking and thoughts of was it all worth it. Another new youth team sailing' Peek a Boo', Ben Townsend and Ed Richardson, showed great speed upwind and great potential for the future. Many teams were starting to fatigue as the conditions worsened. Seasickness had taken its toll with the words Jesus and Bijou among others coming from several boats who then retired, a reminder that we are all gods’ people. Curtis and Grieg got the win from Burge and Townend.
And so, to the recovery to the shore which would prove to be very traumatic. Mainsails were dropped and stowed and the run in committed to. The main aim was to keep yourself alive and to protect the boat but alas as we tried to help from the shore first one then another one bites the dust as the swell took control. Luckily with the help of a great many people all crews and boats were recovered fairly intact. Several crew looked like death on two legs after being swept under the boat and into the surf.
Once safely changed and hydrated the inspection of damage and repairs could be made. For those that escaped it would be more a case of lazing on a Sunday afternoon.
Day 3 (Monday) and the now familiar sound of wind in the rigging and the foretold scenario from every weather App available proved correct and the days racing was abandoned early. Some crews went off for a bicycle race to nearby Charlestown others hung around and tinkered some more with many boats suffering from grit in the centreboard case it was time for a clean of the hull where along with MER and Jif there was definitely some flash used! By the afternoon boredom had set in and some of the collective had started to suffer with one announcing ‘I’m going slightly mad’ and another ‘I’m in love with my car’. These were worrying revelations and all were taken to the bar to hydrate some more. Not long after this all hell let loose with thunder bolt and lightning which as you can imagine was very very frightening.
Day 4 (Tuesday) and all assembled early with talk of 2 races before the bad weather arrived. The race team were doing all they could and were determined that the show must go on. The fleet were by now weary in general and only some were keen to play the game. It was clear that for those with all to play for there was only one vision. By launch time the same scenario as had been seen on every day was playing out and the safety of both the rescue crews and the competitors was the main consideration. With this in mind the decision was taken to again abandon the days racing and with it the conclusion of the event. A surprised comment of we are the Champions from Burge and Townend but tempered with It’s a hard life for some as the discard never came into play. This did mean that the prize giving could take place nice and early to allow most to depart around lunchtime with the furthest travellers going back to Scotland and even Kenya!
The Osprey class would like to thank Porthpean Sailing Club and all helpers for its sterling efforts, in difficult circumstances. To our sponsors and supporters and to all of the competitors that made the effort to travel to the event. We look forward now to next year’s National Championships in our 70th year from Hayling Island Sailing Club September 2nd to the 5th. Early entry discount is offered as an incentive before the end of October go to https://ospreysailing.org.uk for details.
Latest two sail numbers 1381 & 1382 battling it out. Team Hartley leading Team Blake. They are MkVI layout.
