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TCL Scorpion National Championship 2024 at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Day 2

by Nicola Richards with Freddy Simpson 30 Jul 05:58 UTC 28 July - 2 August 2024

We have been very fortunate to have been lent a beautiful boat to sail our first Scorpion Nationals. Andy and Tess Groves have very kindly lent us The Heart of Gold a beautiful wooden Scorpion.

The first day of racing scheduled was lost due to fickle breeze so today was our first time racing with the Scorpion fleet, being the youngest crew, there were a few nerves, but as the Scorpion fleet run a system called Pro-Ams where the crews are buddied up across the fleet to give those less experience the opportunity to learn from others.

On a beautiful sunny day we set to setting up the boat with the help of our Pros Steven Graham and John Clemetson whose help and knowledge was really forthcoming, extremely helpful and very gratefully received!

We launched in glamour Weymouth conditions and headed out of a reasonably long sail to the bay, made longer by having to go back to retrieve Freddie's hat when it went overboard.

Castle Cove SC cadets were out in force, with an amazing 7 cadets competing in various boats, making it really fun event. Once ready we got set up for the practice gate start, after a little bit of confusion, we got some clarification on exactly how it worked we got into the swing of it.

13-15kts made for some great racing. From where we were, we didn't necessarily see the front finishing boats, but congratulations to Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray for winning race 1 followed by CCSC's Sam Pascoe and Sam Barker in second and third was Ollie Meadowcroft and Simon Forbes. Race 2 saw Tom and Rachael take the send race win, Ollie and Simon took second and third was Matt Burge and Rob Gardner.

The wind dropped for the start of race 3 making the gate start much trickier and more need for concentration which we may have been lacking at this point, the highlight of the race for Freddie was when I exited the boat having missed the toe straps, this was not found to be the fastest way round the course! Congratulations to those that completed the course without mishap, Ollie and Simon were first, followed by the fabulous Catherine Maguire and Andrea Fellows and third were Sam and Sam meaning CCSC had 3 members in the top three boats in this race!

Following a long leisurely sail back we returned to shore to find that I was in good company and not only I, but three CCSC cadets went for a little dip. Naming no names, James and Ben!

Following racing we had a debrief from Adam Bowers with video and even got a 'beautiful' for our leeward mark rounding, we'll take that!

The evening finished with Pro-Am drinks which was a great opportunity for the Pro and Amateur teams to discuss the days racing, what worked and didn't and how we would tackle tomorrow. Our first experience of a Scorpion Nationals was great. Good fun and the fleet are super helpful and welcoming.

Thank you Scorpions and CCSC, day 2 of the champs but first day of racing complete, looking forward to Tuesday.

Many thanks to the sponsors for the Championships TCL, Craftinsure, Cerne Abbas Brewery, ribs.auction, AJE Asset Management.

Results after Day 2:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3Pts
1st2051Mrs Bears BoatOllie MeadowcroftSimon ForbesStaunton Harold SC3216
2nd2057The Essence of WetnessThomas GillardRachael GrayStaunton Harold SC1157
3rd2062Sam squaredSam pascoeSam barkerCastle Cove SC2439
4th2058Just the tipPeter GrayRichard PepperdineStaunton Harold SC581023
5th2037Fifty Shades of GreyDan HendersonAmy ClayWarsash SC914629
6th2053***MISSING***Matt BurgeRob GardnerNotts County SC432532
7th1929L'Espirit de TurnipJoe WarwickerAndy ServiceShoreham SC618832
8th2061Silver MulletDave WadeBen RaynerDraycote / Yorkshire Dales SC1610733
9th2028Blue StealRyan BuchananHannah BuchananWarsash SC7111634
10th2030Saline DripVince HoreyOliver RaynerYorkshire Dales SC824436
11th2026Sneaky NinjaChris MartinJohn TailbyNotts County SC1352038
12th1939Ice On FireAdrian SmithRobert SmithCastle Cove SC/HSSC10131538
13th2005Drama QueenJanet RitchieAlan RitchieSidmouth SC2271746
14th2041Hot FussCatherine MaguireAndrea FellowsLymington Town SC2817247
15th204Discreet BananaJock FellowsSimon MaguireCastle Cove SC1862347
16th2022QuakersJohn ClemetsonStephen GrahamStaunton Harold SC17221453
17th2042***MISSING***Angus HemmingsFraser HemmingsIndependent14291154
18th1958***MISSING***Matt potterKevin HopeNotts County SC23152260
19th1923OrinocoAlistair ClarkeChloe ClarkeCastle Cove SC2136966
20th2043Real Rockin RollerBarry WolfendenMatt RaynerBough Beech31251369
21st2025Wot A WombatNigel HuftonRachael JenkinsFrensham Pond SC24271869
22nd2018***MISSING***Nigel PotterJerry HannabussNotts County SC12312770
23rd2001ZephyrGraeme BristowJosh OatesSouth Cerney19282673
24th2014IntoxicatedAJ EatonChris EatonStarcross41161976
25th2021Snap Shackel & PlopJames SalterMax HaymenSidmouth SC / Gosford SC27212876
26th1986Secret SquirrelDavid HallPaul ConstableBlackwater SC11303879
27th2044TallulahAndrew PetersMartyn DenchfieldCastle Cove SC29391280
28th2039Inside VoiceNeville HerbertKarl ThorneLymington Town SC36123381
29th2063EileenIan CadwalladerEllie DevereuxChew Valley Lake SC20352984
30th1995SilverlodePeter RoseJohn RoseTenby32322488
31st1943Blue MoonJohn MursellMatthew PalmerCastle Cove SC25462192
32nd1880Shock WaveMike LennonSteve WalkerPennine SC15434098
33rd2031Up Yours 2Peter CrowtherDave ThompsonPennine SC372044101
34th2055There's no F in bagsNeil SpacagnaPaul McHenryBabbacombe Corinthian SC491937105
35th2024Big Bad WolfSandra SmithJeni RichardsCastle Cove SC45955109
36th1981Highway StarDave ElstonBen RichardsonCastle Cove SC343839111
37th2052Heart of GlassJohn ReayRob CageThames Sailing Club265235113
38th2054In a minuteTom LonsdaleEmily BattertonWest Oxford SC354831114
39th1951SidewinderFiona TaylorGordon TaylorLymington Town SC394532116
40th2048Liquid SpiritChris YatesDave BarkerDraycote443441119
41st1997PeachesSamantha MasonRichard MasonNotts County SC382361122
42nd2060A date with destinyRussell WheelerLee MarriottIsle of Sheppey Sailing Club304059129
43rd1937The Bee's KneesMyles JacksonBill JacksonLlandegfedd SC463350129
44th1969Water PleaseOliver FellowsWilliam AdlerCastle Cove SC335545133
45th1949ExtravaganceCheryl JessopMartin WorthBrightlingsea Sailing Club434448135
46th1980StormMartin PascoeTim HulleyCastle Cove SC475734138
47th2017***MISSING***Jon willarsNicola WillarsNotts County SC423762141
48th1912Pigs on the wingWilliam WinterLJ WinterCam Sailing Club504252144
49th2049Pickled WombatDavid SnutchChristina GillNotts County SC514153145
50th1945***MISSING***Paul DeanRussell HallFishers Green SC695130150
51st1985Another WombatRob MorsleyMandy MorsleyPortdinorwic Sailing Club556136152
52nd2015Touching the VoidJoanne MahyJames HarcourtCastle Cove SC535347153
53rd1052ShandyTom Sander‑DanielAlison SheldrickHCYC/HLSC634746156
54th2059Wrecking BallEdward ParsonsTony HanlonEmsworth SC40RET43160
55th2009PerditaNeil PetersChris HampshirePevensey Bay / Eastbourne Soverign SC485656160
56th1970Custard TartRobert YorkJacky YorkLymington Town SC5826DNF161
57th1991It's me or the boatDavid BennettMartyn Touy SmithChew Valley Lake SC626342167
58th2023Pincer MovementKevin NichollsSteve GillNotts County SC594960168
59th1919PolycroozRichard GatehouseLauren WillsSidmouth SC546451169
60th2036Head over FeetRobert Campbell‑GrayAngie ValeRoyal Harwich yacht club617049180
61st1916Carte BleueRobin JamiesonJack HodderCastle Cove SC665463183
62nd1993AquatonicMiles HapgoodSteve SmithSidmouth SC52DNC58187
63rd1940Spitfire Summernigel denchfieldChris ClarkeGrafham Water SC736054187
64th1891Fire in the skyJeremy LovellTor LovellIndependent646957190
65th1936Bottyburp the BarbarianSimon HoldenCharlie CammKing George SC566669191
66th1868Lady in RedAustin PoulloinGav PoulloinCastle Cove SC5759DNS193
67th1865Up YoursGarry KnottJake WillarsTbc6058DNS195
68th1959Princess Tiger Lily and lardy boysStephen JordanKaren GredleyHunts7150DNS198
69th2056DelilahCheryl WoodHenry MarksPennine SC656767199
70th1903The Heart of GoldNicola RichardsFreddy SimpsonCastle Cove SC676271200
71st1988FAC 51Barny CroftLouise CorfieldSidmouth SC687166205
72nd2034Tight ScrewJohn CooperAnesta CooperHuntsRET6564206
73rd1990Blue BreezeMark WhitemanSophie lona O'neillRye Harbour sailing club706870208
74th2027A La CarteRichard HainesZoe GrantNetley SC72DNS65214
75th892Some more ChaosPeter BellJames BeckramCastle Cove SC747268214
76th1646***MISSING***Ben WalkerMatthew WalkerCastle Cove SC7573DNC225

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