A tale of sausages and pasties at the Osprey Nationals

by Alan Henderson on 21 Jul 2014 Day two, July 20th, of the 39 boat Osprey Nationals at Porthpean brought a long wait before the action started. When the action started it was brisk, with an offshore wind of around 15 knots.

The famous Porthpean pasty boat was not needed, with the sailors who included quite a few famous pie eaters formerly of a ghostly class having to fuel up with the pasties before the late launch. The Osprey is one of the few boats which suit big helms and crews, so offers a good option for larger former singlehander sailors.

With a change of course shape today to sausage triangles, there were plenty of sausages on the menu on the water, then after sailing at the barbie.

The more generously proportioned pie eaters and sausage munchers were licking their lips as the wind built as the fleet sailed down to the start area. Racing was always going to be challenging, with the wind coming down from the cliffs and valleys, so very shifty for its 15 kts plus strength.

Three races were sailed after the four hour postponement, and the Race Officer allowed one general recall before reaching for his black flag for all subsequent starts.

The initial sausage legs were tactical within the bunched fleet, but the pie eaters and sausage munchers found the reaches to their taste, with some reaches being quite tight, allowing the bigger crews to exert their full power. Best performers of the day were Martin Cooney, crewed by the ample Peter Frith, who took two wins and a third place. First day leaders Matt Burge and Vyv Townend stayed close to the front, rather than continuing their first day domination. D J Edwards and James Coxon, and Chris Gould/ Nick Broomhall also scored well, as a top four emerged, some way ahead of the rest.

Gould though seemed to be suffering from the sunshine, and between races completed a back flip which Tom Daley would have been proud of, during the desperate avoidance of a collision, while his crew Nick Broomhall heroically prevented a full capsize, while pulling Gould back into the boat with his other hand. However this seemed to cool off their heatstroke, and they took a third and a second in the later races.

Another three races are scheduled at Porthpean on Monday, and more new course shapes may add to the mix. What choice of nourishment will suit the new course shape(s)?

Results Race 1
1. Matt Burge and Vyv Townend
2. D J Edwards and James Coxon
3. Martin Cooney and Peter Frith

Race 2
1. Cooney
2. Edwards
3. Gould

Race 3
1. Cooney
2. Gould
3. Burge

Overall after five races
1. Burge and Townend
2. Cooney and Frith
3. Edwards and Coxon

Full results available here