Osprey Gul Grand Prix Series at Kielder Water Sailing Club

The Osprey Scottish and Northern Championship is held during the Kielder Water open © John Scullion

Osprey Scottish and Northern Championship

People swam, flew and drove to Keilder Water for this fourth of five event in the Gul Grand Prix Series. One mile south of Scotland and 25 miles north of Hadrians Wall, Keilder Water is a beautiful remote lake in Northumberland. Torrential rain, howling wind from the North and low lying cloud might be less preferable than sunshine and nice force five from the west but we took what we could from the experience. Fantastic northern hospitality, inexpensive food, good beer and common feeling of suffrage compensated with a four seasons in one day Sunday.

The journey north on Friday was “damp”. Those masochists that camped at least had the benefit that the KW midges had drowned. Getting changed before rigging the boat was de rigour, stepping the mast in the lulls from the savage gusts essential. It seemed that the forecast had had an impact on the other fleets, Ospreys however are a hardier breed and lure of expensive goodies from Gul had them appearing from their eyries. I can wax lyrical about rain drops dripping off the nose, the repeated comments about “it only blows from the North a couple of times a season” and “it is rare to have two consecutive bad days never mind three” but dear reader you want to hear about the racing.

This event dragged out a few heavy weights (metaphorical if not quite physical). Oscar Chess, ace helmsman and many throned national champion of the class stepped in to the back of the current champion crew (Peter Frith’s) boat. Following his 2 hour prep talk from Peter, Oscar felt comfortable with the 2 pieces of string he was then allowed to pull. Ex FF supremo Steve Goacher arrived to add to his Osprey experience helming Nick Broomhall and there were a mixture of the regular and less so – (Daves Uncle making his first appearance of the year).

Saturday 1 pm the whistle went (the horn had packed up by this stage and a whistle was all left) – game on. Paddy Lewis and Alastair Smith hit the windward mark first – unfortunately for him hit was accurate and turns were required. Mike Pickering and Robin Hobson took the lead – a healthy one at that and then it was felt a buoyancy check at the gybe mark was necessary. Oscar and Peter – fresh from their own pre-start buoyancy test swept into the lead and held it to the finish. Paddy Lewis showed fabulous boat speed and climbed back to second ahead of the ever present Rob Shaw and Ian Little.

Whilst Oscar and Peter won the second race, it was fair to say that comfortable was not really a description of 30+mph gusts and 10 degree wind shifts but their mastery of consistency prevailed and tactics like magicing a split in the main to spill wind from the top of the sail only helped their cause. Mike Pickering and Robin Hobson, on a mission following their fifth in the first race were narrowly pipped into second. Rob Shaw got third. Unfortunately the leading three decided that an extra lap was necessary (the whistle being lost in wind howl even though the line was not long). It was especially hard for Rob and Ian as Mike and Robin opted for a full water look to the cockpit halfway down the run that had allowed Rob through to what he thought was second. What merriment that caused in the bar afterwards. Moments of particular joy were Steve Goacher literally claiming the pin end of the line as his own – first hitting it and then capsizing on it – total mastery of ownership and then Paddy Lewis going for capsize of the day with Alastair sticking his head through the middle of new Kevlar main.

The race officer then said it was time for tea so in we went. A straw poll was then taken about race 3 and the democratic majority settled for the tea and cake.

Sunday and to everyone’s surprise it was still raining. Unfortunately a lot of the wind had gone and a force 2 with some interesting gusts and shifts was the order of the day. Wet limp flags and a whistle meant four boats missed the start. Steve Goacher second to last over the line, some 2 minutes after the whistle showed fantastic speed to climb to fifth. Your author was over 3 minutes behind so the results were a first for the Scotts, second for Oscar and Peter and third for Russ Gardiner and Ollie Hobson.

Race four saw a very short race where Rob Shaw was able to pick the right shifts to win from Steve Goacher and the Scotts, and then the race officer sent us in for lunch.

After a lovely hot lunch from the legion of willing ladies, we were pushed out into the cold for the final battles. It was looking to be between Oscar and Peter and Rob and Ian. Steve Goachers preoccupation with getting over the line early (first race) and hogging the pin (second) on the Saturday had cost him dear. Despite this – Steve decided to step up a gear and stormed it – winning by a healthy margin. Rob stepped up to the mark and nicked second and Paddy Lewis split him from Oscar with third.

With the wind picking up and the slightly bigger course it needed Rob to win or finish in the top 3, two places ahead of Oscar. Steve Goacher made no mistake and hit the front, Oscar followed him round. For Rob in third, it was at the windward mark second time round that Ian decided the pressure was too much. Leaping over the side claiming to have missed his trapeze he abandoned Rob to his fate. Fortunately Mike Pickering avoided both the boat and Ian despite having his head in the boat hoisting the kite. On the next beat Mike overtook Oscar and the order did not change to the finish.

During the Sunday racing we had had no wind, force 4/5 gusts, deluge rain, sunshine and fog/mist but it was true to say it had been a good adventure.

Oscar and Peter had won, Steve Goacher got second on count back and Rob Shaw got third.

Great weekend – roll on Rutland.

Overall Results: