Osprey Open at Poole Yacht Club

Poole Osprey open © Mike Millard

Richard Marshall and Piers Strong win the Poole Osprey open © Mike Millard

Basher dealt the ultimate blow with a bit of help from Wendy

Richard "Basher" Marshall crewed by Piers Strong finished the weekend on top of the leader board and he did it without needing to contact his insurance company to request a claim form, which is rare.

At the interview in the changing room afterwards, Basher proudly puffed out his red hairy chest and commented that this weekend's success can be put down to having read "The adventure of Peter Pan in Never Land" to his new crew Piers. "It is one of my favourite books of all times and has inspired me through out my sailing career" said Marshall. He went on to say that Piers was going to be a permanent fixture at the front of the boat and was hoping he would agree to being called Wendy from now on.

On the water Marshall and Strong dominated the event with two 1st places and a 2nd to count, winning the first race on Saturday by at least half a leg. Piers has clearly been a fabulous addition to the boat and his training last year in the GBR Olympic squad coupled with skills picked up that lead to the top spot in the 420 Nationals in 2009, will make these two major contenders for the Nationals this year.

Elsewhere in the fleet there were mixed fortunes. Stevie George and Mikey Greig sadly had limited success on the water. However, the weekend was not a complete disaster thanks to a chance meeting in a lay-by on the way to the event of a Welsh gentleman, needless to say called Dowie, who was selling a sofa and some other flat pack furniture. After a bit of haggling a price of half the starting figure was agreed and the sofa was proudly loaded on to the roof of the van, flat pack inside and of they trotted to Poole.

Stevie excitedly called the lovely Mrs George post the opportune transaction to say he had brought her a new sofa but when he told her where he'd got it it was rejected. Luckily Mikey had a plan B. His brother Pete was moving house on Saturday and was sure to need a sofa, flat pack wardrobe, chest of draws and a bedside table. A call was made to Pete, 20% margin added, deal done collected that evening. Great trade guys, better luck on the water at Weymouth.

Pete Frith and Martin Cooney were in the hunt over the weekend sailing consistently both days. However, Sunday nearly didn't happen for them because Pete managed to drop his car keys down the drain outside his house, which he is hoping to retrieve with a magnet later. Good luck with that!

Other news from the weekend, Russ Wheeler filled us in on his conquests at the 505 world championships in Barbados, none of which were on the water. Well done Russ!

Midge Watkins helmed her dad Alastair Watkins and didn't stop smiling all weekend. Other teams reported hearing lots of "Come on Daddy are you really to tack" and "You'll have to be a bit quicker that that if we are going to get past Paddy and Ollie" which they did a couple of times! One to watch.

There was some impressive sailing from Broomhall and the Young Man. More from them expected at the Nationals.

Terry Curtis and Tim Bowden in 1281 had a great result as runners-up. They may need to brush up on the three boat length rule before Weymouth but other than that had an impressive weekend back at 1281's old home.

All in all another fantastic weekend#s gossip interspersed with some sailing. Thanks to everyone at Poole for laying on such a great couple of days. Heaven knows why 160,000 people chose to go to Glastonbury rather than coming to the Poole Osprey Open meeting. It's actually lucky they stayed away because we would have run out of cake!

Overall Results: