With the terrible weather of recent Osprey National Championships successfully banished this time around the competing 36 teams were treated to some epic and at times fruity sailing in Swansea Bay hosted by the brilliant Mumbles Yacht Club.

An earlier than usual slot in the calendar this year brought the Nations travelling army together from the 3rd to the 6th of July. With teams coming from as far away as Scotland and even moral support from Australia and Germany. Every year the Osprey class continues to hold its own amongst the 2 handed symmetrical performance trapeze boats, and with a weather forecast that looked settled excitement was guaranteed. 8 races were scheduled and 8 were completed all under full power conditions for the most part with new levels of mast rake found for some.

In summary the racing was simply epic, the sausage/triangle courses were set sympathetically for the conditions which all teams appreciated allowing enough of a challenge without the need to calculate on a do or die approach and keeping the middle and back of the fleet engaged in the racing until the end. The fight up at the front was impressive to watch through the spray with both Matt Burge/Phil Angrave & Terry Curtis/Peter Greig having to navigate traffic in order to lock horns in pursuit of the cup. Many other teams had their moment in the sun in fact too many to mention and if they could navigate the snakes and ladders up the beats all showed impressive speed once the corners were turned and spinnakers launched.

With winds building to a very fruity level for a period on the final day many teams experienced the delights of an involuntary swim in the bay, however the eventual National Champion helm Matt Burge elected to don his swim suit and pop in for a few miles of swim practice for his upcoming Iron Man before going afloat, just to limber up for the racing ahead watched by the rest of the fleet who were drinking coffee and eating bacon baps from the pier in amazement. Paddy Lewis was seen offering Matt some performance enhancing gel that he recently acquired from Steve George but at the time of writing it is not known if this was applied in any way.

By the final race of the series several boats had decided that they could have no more fun so elected for the early shower, a few had breakages most notably Ben Townsend and Ed Richardson who are making great gains in the fleet which may be why the boat is protesting at the extra strain being applied. This crew is one to watch for sure and great to see. The launch and recovery from the slipway was also a demonstration of Osprey commitment with long time Osprey supporter John Shenton wading in neck deep each day to ensure everyone made it in and out safely. A brave and selfless act if ever there was one and very welcome by all.

The club did an amazing job of hosting the fleet, welcoming, relaxed, professional just a few of the comments that were made. The evening meals which were all included in the entry fee were served with great efficiency and the class dinner on the final night was a spectacular achievement running to no less than 4 courses, no one left hungry and we eat a lot. A quiz, a band and plenty of entertainment by Osprey legend Oscar Chess and his incredible collection of all things remote controlled kept everyone entertained throughout. And then to top everything off the club organised a weekend airshow for the fleet as well - I don't think that will ever be beaten.

A few individual mentions from the event:

• Wooden Ospreys are still showing what can be done with 2nd and 3rd place this year - older yes but not slow.
• Roger and Jamie Blake are still annoyingly fast after a recent mast failure which bodes well for this year's Sail juice series.
• Ian Cadwallader and Mike Cox sailing 1357 put in a great performance to finish 5th in their first Osprey Nationals
• Mike Fenwick, taking time out of the International Canoe commented he has never sailed anything so stable with effortless speed and room to store your lunch, and your canoe! He may struggle on his return but we hope to see more of him steering 1175 as he was certainly Able Too! Finishing 7th overall.
• Arthur Butler is now asking for an appearance fee from Alec Mamwell after a good showing guesting with Richard (Basher) Marshall at this event finishing 8th, although Richard was also overheard trying to purchase the services of Mark Mawhinney on the penultimate night.
• 1276 & 1298 for some brilliant early starts and race results and a good nose for red wine.
• 1340 Joe Cross and Emily Cross really getting to grips with the boat now and stiff competition. Emily rightly winning the top lady crew award as well for a fantastic performance.
• 1322 and the boys from Emsworth, ballistic in a breeze they just need stronger kit to be at the front all the time.
• 1291 Team Willis for patching up Nick and his efforts in obvious physical pain throughout, face up spread eagle on the bow whilst ashore giving the local tourists a scare, its hoped that soon his back will be able to be straightened along with his mast after a Genoa halyard failure...time for Carbon Nick.
• Weymouth finally wrestling the team prize away from Poole A, a hotly contested trophy each year.

Finally, from all of the Osprey family to the host club and all the volunteers including of course the Osprey WAG's who worked tirelessly to ensure we could all have the best time, if you weren't there then you really did miss out this time around, so if you are reading this then start to plan for 2026 and the return of the class to Mounts Bay in Cornwall. If you don't own an Osprey or have not sailed one then get in touch via the Website and Facebook pages. We want you involved! And have a new class boat for loan at no cost to allow you to try before you buy. Also agreed at the AGM this year was the option to add a second trapeze if you fancy sailing with a young crew, perhaps as a family or if you have young club members that want to try an event as a 3-up team. Subject to a case by case approval and encouraged by the membership to make the class even more accessible.

Thank-you also to our title sponsors Craftinsure, along with Hartley Boats for the continued and valued sponsorship of the class, enabling more teams to participate. And the support of Clamcleat, Rain and Sun, Allen, Sea Sure and Fernhurst Books.

Links to photographs
Day 1 - https://adobe.ly/4lzCIxY

Day 2 - https://adobe.ly/4lgCD2G

Day 3 - https://adobe.ly/4nq2jv8

Day 3 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/EVkshc8ANRqjxiBb8

Day 4 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/gA32j7PzTpTLrEZB9 

	The Craftinsure 2025 Osprey UK National Championship Mumbles Yacht Club Scheduled for 3rd to 6th July 2025

Results Overall

Sailed: 8, Discards: 1, To count: 7, Entries: 36, Scoring system: Appendix A

Position	Sail Number	Boat Name	Year Built	Builder	Helm Crew	Club	Club Team	Region	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Total Points	Nett Points
1	1352	String Driven Thing	2012	Hartley	Matt Burge Phil Angrave	Poole YC	Poole A	ENG	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	(3.0)	2.0	2.0	1.0	12.0	9.0
2	1234	Plan B	1996	Jeff Hewitt	Terry Curtis Peter Greig	Weymouth SC Weston SC	CC Weymouth	ENG	(3.0)	3.0	2.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	3.0	16.0	13.0
3	1290	Swiftwun	1997	Chipstow Boatyards	Martin Cooney Peter Frith	Poole YC	Poole A	ENG	5.0	2.0	4.0	4.0	2.0	8.0	12.0	(14.0)	51.0	37.0
4	1382	Ghost Ship	2022	Hartley	Roger Blake James Blake	Great Moor SC	Great Moor SC	ENG	(12.0)	8.0	7.0	3.0	7.0	3.0	5.0	5.0	50.0	38.0
5	1357	Last Orders	2014	Hartley	Ian Cadwalleder Mike Cox	CVLSC Portishead Y&SC	CVLSC Portishead Y&SC	ENG	8.0	6.0	3.0	(11.0)	4.0	9.0	11.0	2.0	54.0	43.0
6	1353	Callisto	2012	Hartley	Stuart Maunder Kevin Francis	Poole YC	CC Weymouth	ENG	10.0	(19.0)	14.0	7.0	6.0	4.0	14.0	4.0	78.0	59.0
7	1175	Able To	1979	Creasey	Mike Fenwick Tim Bowden	Weymouth SC	CC Weymouth	ENG	11.0	13.0	9.0	10.0	8.0	7.0	(17.0)	7.0	82.0	65.0
8	1373	Great White	2017	Hartley	Richard Marshall Arthur Butler	Poole YC	Poole B	ENG	7.0	(12.0)	12.0	12.0	12.0	11.0	10.0	9.0	85.0	73.0
9	1298	Barking Mad	2000	Andy Barker	Michael Atkinson Gareth Humphrey	Poole YC	Poole B	ENG	2.0	14.0	5.0	13.0	(23.0)	16.0	20.0	6.0	99.0	76.0
10	1291	Waimanu	1998	Porter Brothers	Alex Willis F Nick Willis	Hayling Island SC	Hayling Island SC	ENG	4.0	7.0	13.0	14.0	13.0	22.0	3.0	(37.0 DNF)	113.0	76.0
11	1386	Far Far	2024	Hartley	Paddy Lewis Mike Priddle	Datchet Water SC	Datchet Water SC	ENG	18.0	5.0	10.0	(37.0 DNF)	15.0	14.0	7.0	8.0	114.0	77.0
12	1317	The Duke	2006	Hartley	Simon Townsend JackTownsend	Emsworth SC	Emsworth SC	ENG	(23.0)	17.0	15.0	5.0	11.0	10.0	13.0	10.0	104.0	81.0
13	1383	Thieves Like Us	2023	Hartley	Russell Wheeler Mark Mawhinney	Isle of Sheppey SC	Kentish Men	ENG	(26.0)	22.0	19.0	8.0	10.0	5.0	4.0	16.0	110.0	84.0
14	1366	Burach	2016	Hartley	Stewart Murdoch Sandy Bremner	Royal Tay YC	S&N	SCO	(27.0)	15.0	18.0	9.0	14.0	12.0	8.0	11.0	114.0	87.0
15	1340	Date Night	2010	Hartley	Joe Cross Emily Cross F	Poole YC	Poole A	ENG	16.0	(31.0)	8.0	6.0	16.0	27.0	6.0	13.0	123.0	92.0
16	1349	Bird of Prey IV	2011	Hartley	Robert Shaw Ian Little	Kielder Water SC	S&N	ENG	9.0	18.0	(20.0)	18.0	19.0	19.0	15.0	12.0	130.0	110.0
17	1276	Jennifer	1995	Dobson & Storrar	Simon Brewer Alistair Ramsden	Mumbles YC	Mumbles YC	WAL	6.0	4.0	6.0	15.0	9.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNC	151.0	114.0
18	1348	Jammy Dodger	2010	Hartley	Oscar Chess David Charles	Tata Steel SC Mumbles SC	Mumbles YC	WAL	19.0	11.0	11.0	23.0	22.0	13.0	21.0	(37.0 DNC)	157.0	120.0
19	1319	Prey Encore		Hartley	Harriet Watkins F Alistair Watkins	Poole YC	Poole B	ENG	24.0	(26.0)	24.0	16.0	17.0	17.0	9.0	15.0	148.0	122.0
20	1336	Cariad Y Mor	2007	Hartley	Jason Taylor Matthew Taylor	Tata Steel SC	Tata Steel SC	WAL	(37.0 OCS)	9.0	22.0	17.0	24.0	15.0	19.0	19.0	162.0	125.0
21	1314	Think Again	2005	Hartley	Viola Scott F Michael Scott	Lochaber YC	S&N	SCO	20.0	16.0	17.0	20.0	21.0	18.0	18.0	(37.0 DNC)	167.0	130.0
22	1207	Schiaffino	1983	John Claridge / Laurie Smart	Andrew Hattersley Richard Hattersley	Poole YC	Poole YC	ENG	13.0	21.0	23.0	21.0	18.0	(37.0 DSQ)	23.0	20.0	176.0	139.0
23	1338	Curved Air	2017	Hartley	Ken Brown Chris Butters	Isle of Sheppey SC RYA	Kentish Men	ENG	15.0	20.0	16.0	22.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNC	16.0	17.0	180.0	143.0
24	1322	Peek a Boo	2006	Hartley	Ed Richardson Ben Townsend	Emsworth SC	Emsworth SC	ENG	22.0	10.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNC	5.0	6.0	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNC	191.0	154.0
25	1344	Rhiannon	2010	Hartley	Paul Bambridge Carwyn Owen	Tata Steel SC	Tata Steel SC	WAL	30.0	27.0	(37.0 DNF)	24.0	20.0	20.0	25.0	18.0	201.0	164.0
26	1114	Just Pogo	1975	Gardiner & Iddon	Ros Downs F David Downs	Tata Steel SC	Tata Steel SC	WAL	14.0	(32.0)	29.0	26.0	28.0	29.0	24.0	22.0	204.0	172.0
27	1296	Whitestar	2000	Andy Barker	Graham Head Antony Shaw	Margate YC	Kentish Men	ENG	(32.0)	24.0	30.0	28.0	30.0	21.0	22.0	21.0	208.0	176.0
28	1385	Six Pack	2023	Hartley	Simon George Nicola George F	Great Moor SC	Great Moor SC	ENG	17.0	29.0	28.0	27.0	27.0	23.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNC	225.0	188.0
29	1292	Light & Bitter	1998	A Dobson / Robert Shaw	Paul Heather Jonathan Osgood	Teignmouth Corinthian SC Stewartby Water	Teignmouth Corinthian SC Stewartby Water	ENG	21.0	23.0	21.0	19.0	(37.0 DNC)	37.0 DNC	37.0 DNC	37.0 DNC	232.0	195.0
30	1278	All White Now	1995	Porter Brothers	Alex Shaw Richard Woffinden	Mumbles YC	Mumbles YC	WAL	29.0	30.0	25.0	25.0	31.0	25.0	(37.0 DNC)	37.0 DNC	239.0	202.0
31	1341	Ylost	2010	Hartley	Willy Crichton Jon Batt	Ribble Cruising Club Blithfield SC	Blithfield SC	ENG	28.0	28.0	27.0	30.0	32.0	28.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNC	247.0	210.0
32	1369	Dark Matter	2005	Hartley	Rob Southern Freddie Southern Beanie Southern	Emsworth SC	Emsworth	ENG	34.0	35.0	31.0	29.0	26.0	26.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNC	255.0	218.0
33	1326	Shameless	2016	Hartley	Adam Southern Tristan Southern	Emsworth SC	Emsworth SC	ENG	35.0	33.0	26.0	(37.0 OCS)	29.0	24.0	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNC	258.0	221.0
34	1363	Robbers Alley	2016	Hartley	Rob Burdekin Alistair Raynard	Blithfield SC	Blithfield SC	ENG	25.0	25.0	(37.0 DNC)	37.0 DNC	25.0	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNC	260.0	223.0
35	1271	Drifty	1992	Porter Brothers	Tom Kift Daniel Drummond	Netley SC	Netley SC	ENG	33.0	36.0	32.0	31.0	33.0	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNC	37.0 DNC	276.0	239.0
36	1333	Tantrums and Tiaras Two	2007	Hartley	Douglas Rankin Pete Slater	Blithfield SC	Blithfield SC	ENG	31.0	34.0	(37.0 DNC)	37.0 DNC	37.0 DNC	37.0 DNC	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNC	287.0	250.0

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Prizes

Scoring codes used

mumblesyachtclub.co.uk	Sailwave Scoring Software 2.38.02 www.sailwave.com	ospreysailing.org.uk

Class Partners & Sponsors

Companies supporting the Osprey Class