Osprey Welsh & Midland Championships at Tata Steel Sailing Club

Osprey Welsh & Midland Championships © Huw Pearce

Osprey Welsh & Midland Championships © Huw Pearce

Osprey Welsh & Midland Championships © Huw Pearce

This weekend saw the Osprey Welsh & Midland Championships held at Tata Steel Sailing Club in Margam. Returning to the fleet after a long absence was the infamous DJ who manned the front end of Jeff Hughes boat and whipped him around the course. It was also great to see Ian Williams put in a guest appearance although he was unable to race but managed to 'sail in company'.

The first day of light sea breezes and shifty winds was dominated by Alex Willis crewed by her dad Nick with a 1,1,3. Jeff and DJ banged in a couple of 2nds with Mark Weston & Tim Keighley' best races giving them a 1 and 3. Oscar and Lisa Chess were also in the running with a 2 & 4 whilst Paul Heather and Jon Osgood were sailing a consistent series of 3rds & 4ths.

All to play for on the Sunday with Jeff and DJ landing a 1 in race 4 ahead of Mark and Tim with Mike and Pam Murray in 3rd.

Race 5 and Jeff and DJ did a horizon job but, on the last lap and a leg in front they got lifted and lifted into a hole and lost all their lead to Mark and Tim and allowed the rest of the fleet to close up. Alex and Nick fought back after a disastrous first beat until the last mark they were 2 boat lengths behind DJ and Jeff who had regained the lead and who found another hole allowing Alex and Nick to ghost around the mark and pick up a fresh breeze to just pip DJ & Jeff to the line.

All to play on the last race. Alex and Nick had the lead counting 6 points with Jeff and DJ close behind counting 7. Mark and Tim's 4th in race 5 just pushed them out of the running for 1st overall. Race 6 and most of the competitors held the lead at one point or another until, going through the gate at the beginning on the last lap Mike & Pam Murray were in the lead alongside Nick and Alex and Paul and Jon with DJ and Jeff well back in 4th and Mark and Tim in 5th. After the race Jeff claimed after that he had had a premonition that the wind would swing 90 degrees on the last beat and that was just what happened filling in to a F3-4. The race officer considered abandoning the race but let it go and the windward mark now saw Mark and Tim round first with DJ and Jeff second with Alex and Nick last but one. The 2nd and 3rd downwind legs turned into a run and a beat and by the end of the 3rd leg DJ and Jeff were in the lead with Mark and Tim 2nd and Alex and Nick back up to 3rd. Rounding the last mark and Mark and Tim got the jump on DJ & Jeff but hoisted their kite a bit too early allowing DJ and Jeff to 2 sail above them and bare off over the top with their kite for a scorching reach to the finish. 20 seconds later Alex and Nick crossed the line in 3rd Place and DJ and Jeff had won the Championships by 1 point.

Overall Results: