TCL Scorpion National Championship 2024 at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Day 4
by Lauren Wills and Richard Gatehouse 1 Aug 05:53 UTC
28 July - 2 August 2024
Greetings from the back of the fleet! Here's the latest update from the underdogs of the Scorpion Fleet, also known as the bronze fleet.
Delays and Postponements
The morning saw expectations of an early start with the potential for three races, but these hopes evaporated under the blazing Weybiza (Weymouth) sun. This gave us the opportunity to watch some of the Olympics, enjoy a swim and hold a lunchtime AGM where we heard about the impressive progress of the Scorpion Fleet as a class. A three-hour postponement took us to a 2 PM release and a 2:55 PM planned warning signal.
Race 6 Recap
By the time racing commenced the wind was a light yet steady 5-6 knots, which for us means just a mild lean. From our vantage point at the back, it was a distant view of the leaders:
1. 2057 - Tom Gillard and Rach Gray
2. 2051 - Ollie Meadowcroft and Simon Forbes
3. 2062 - Sam Pascoe and Sam Barker
Unfortunately, the wind died right off resulting in Race 7 being postponed to Thursday (fingers crossed).
Coaching
Once off the water and changed, we had yet another marvellous coaching session for the fleet from Adam Bowers, covering various hints and tips for light wind sailing, including roll tacks, with video demonstrations from Tom and Rach.
These sessions have been invaluable to us, and our improvements have largely been due to them and the help we've received from other more experienced sailors in the fleet who have been kind enough to take the time to look at our setup and help us make numerous modifications to Polycrooz.
Post-Race Festivities
The real excitement began with the evening's games night. The competition was fierce, and the camaraderie even fiercer!
Despite her prowess on the water, Rachael Gray's team lost out on first place due to her balloon knot-tying abilities, much to everyone's surprise! And John Tailby (AKA King of String) lost against his opponent in the boat winding race, which also provided some giggles amongst friends.
Team 5 (Richard Haines, Zoe Grant, Janet Richie, Lauren Wills, Rob and Mandy Morsley) won overall due to their well-thought-out strategies, despite a couple of teammates struggling to stay on their feet, with Janet Richie facing minor injury!
Conclusion
While the racing part of the day had its ups and downs, the post-race activities highlighted the spirit of the fleet - competitive yet filled with camaraderie and fun. Here's to more days of great sailing and unforgettable nights!
Results after Day 4:
Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
1st | 2057 | The Essence of Wetness | Thomas Gillard | Rachael Gray | Staunton Harold SC | 1 | 1 | ‑5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
2nd | 2051 | Mrs Bears Boat | Ollie Meadowcroft | Simon Forbes | Staunton Harold SC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ‑6 | 2 | 12 |
3rd | 2062 | Sam squared | Sam pascoe | Sam barker | Castle Cove SC | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | ‑7 | 3 | 18 |
4th | 2058 | Just the tip | Peter Gray | Richard Pepperdine | Staunton Harold SC | 5 | 8 | ‑10 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 26 |
5th | 2037 | Fifty Shades of Grey | Dan Henderson | Amy Clay | Warsash SC | 9 | ‑14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 28 |
6th | 1929 | L'Espirit de Turnip | Joe Warwicker | Andy Service | Shoreham SC | 6 | ‑18 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 31 |
7th | 2041 | Hot Fuss | Catherine Maguire | Andrea Fellows | Lymington Town SC | ‑28 | 17 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 38 |
8th | 2030 | Saline Drip | Vince Horey | Oliver Rayner | Yorkshire Dales SC | 8 | ‑24 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 6 | 45 |
9th | 2061 | Silver Mullet | Dave Wade | Ben Rayner | Draycote / Yorkshire Dales SC | ‑16 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 50 |
10th | 2053 | ***MISSING*** | Matt Burge | Rob Gardner | Notts County SC | 4 | 3 | ‑25 | 8 | 25 | 21 | 61 |
11th | 2026 | Sneaky Ninja | Chris Martin | John Tailby | Notts County SC | 13 | 5 | 20 | 16 | ‑39 | 7 | 61 |
12th | 2028 | Blue Steal | Ryan Buchanan | Hannah Buchanan | Warsash SC | 7 | 11 | 16 | ‑21 | 13 | 14 | 61 |
13th | 1939 | Ice On Fire | Adrian Smith | Robert Smith | Castle Cove SC/HSSC | 10 | 13 | 15 | 25 | 8 | ‑45 | 71 |
14th | 2005 | Drama Queen | Janet Ritchie | Alan Ritchie | Sidmouth SC | 22 | 7 | 17 | 14 | ‑27 | 12 | 72 |
15th | 2042 | ***MISSING*** | Angus Hemmings | Fraser Hemmings | Independent | 14 | ‑29 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 72 |
16th | 204 | Discreet Banana | Jock Fellows | Simon Maguire | Castle Cove SC | 18 | 6 | 23 | ‑26 | 12 | 16 | 75 |
17th | 2022 | Quakers | John Clemetson | Stephen Graham | Staunton Harold SC | 17 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 9 | (RET) | 77 |
18th | 2018 | ***MISSING*** | Nigel Potter | Jerry Hannabuss | Notts County SC | 12 | ‑31 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 91 |
19th | 1923 | Orinoco | Alistair Clarke | Chloe Clarke | Castle Cove SC | 21 | ‑36 | 9 | 12 | 22 | 28 | 92 |
20th | 2024 | Big Bad Wolf | Sandra Smith | Jeni Richards | Castle Cove SC | 45 | 9 | ‑55 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 95 |
21st | 1958 | ***MISSING*** | Matt potter | Kevin Hope | Notts County SC | 23 | 15 | 22 | 19 | ‑28 | 17 | 96 |
22nd | 1997 | Peaches | Samantha Mason | Richard Mason | Notts County SC | 38 | 23 | ‑61 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 104 |
23rd | 2044 | Tallulah | Andrew Peters | Martyn Denchfield | Castle Cove SC | 29 | ‑39 | 12 | 27 | 19 | 18 | 105 |
24th | 2025 | Wot A Wombat | Nigel Hufton | Rachael Jenkins | Frensham Pond SC | 24 | 27 | 18 | 20 | 32 | ‑35 | 121 |
25th | 2039 | Inside Voice | Neville Herbert | Karl Thorne | Lymington Town SC | ‑36 | 12 | 33 | 28 | 21 | 31 | 125 |
26th | 2043 | Real Rockin Roller | Barry Wolfenden | Matt Rayner | Bough Beech | 31 | 25 | 13 | 33 | ‑37 | 24 | 126 |
27th | 1995 | Silverlode | Peter Rose | John Rose | Tenby | 32 | 32 | 24 | ‑37 | 31 | 10 | 129 |
28th | 2001 | Zephyr | Graeme Bristow | Josh Oates | South Cerney | 19 | 28 | 26 | 34 | 24 | ‑38 | 131 |
29th | 2014 | Intoxicated | AJ Eaton | Chris Eaton | Starcross | ‑41 | 16 | 19 | 39 | 38 | 22 | 134 |
30th | 1943 | Blue Moon | John Mursell | Matthew Palmer | Castle Cove SC | 25 | 46 | 21 | 23 | 29 | (DNC) | 144 |
31st | 1951 | Sidewinder | Fiona Taylor | Gordon Taylor | Lymington Town SC | 39 | 45 | 32 | 13 | 17 | (DSQ) | 146 |
32nd | 2063 | Eileen | Ian Cadwallader | Ellie Devereux | Chew Valley Lake SC | 20 | 35 | 29 | 47 | 18 | (RET) | 149 |
33rd | 1880 | Shock Wave | Mike Lennon | Steve Walker | Pennine SC | 15 | ‑43 | 40 | 32 | 23 | 41 | 151 |
34th | 2031 | Up Yours 2 | Peter Crowther | Dave Thompson | Pennine SC | 37 | 20 | ‑44 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 151 |
35th | 2054 | In a minute | Tom Lonsdale | Emily Batterton | West Oxford SC | 35 | ‑48 | 31 | 30 | 34 | 26 | 156 |
36th | 2021 | Snap Shackel & Plop | James Salter | Max Haymen | Sidmouth SC / Gosford SC | 27 | 21 | 28 | 40 | 41 | (DNS) | 157 |
37th | 1937 | The Bee's Knees | Myles Jackson | Bill Jackson | Llandegfedd SC | 46 | 33 | ‑50 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 168 |
38th | 2052 | Heart of Glass | John Reay | Rob Cage | Thames Sailing Club | 26 | ‑52 | 35 | 38 | 33 | 36 | 168 |
39th | 1969 | Water Please | Oliver Fellows | William Adler | Castle Cove SC | 33 | ‑55 | 45 | 24 | 40 | 29 | 171 |
40th | 1986 | Secret Squirrel | David Hall | Paul Constable | Blackwater SC | 11 | 30 | 38 | (DNC) | DNC | 20 | 176 |
41st | 2060 | A date with destiny | Russell Wheeler | Lee Marriott | Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club | 30 | 40 | ‑59 | 41 | 35 | 32 | 178 |
42nd | 1981 | Highway Star | Dave Elston | Ben Richardson | Castle Cove SC | 34 | 38 | 39 | 46 | 49 | ‑55 | 206 |
43rd | 2059 | Wrecking Ball | Edward Parsons | Tony Hanlon | Emsworth SC | 40 | (RET) | 43 | 52 | 43 | 30 | 208 |
44th | 2048 | Liquid Spirit | Chris Yates | Dave Barker | Draycote | 44 | 34 | 41 | ‑59 | 47 | 42 | 208 |
45th | 2049 | Pickled Wombat | David Snutch | Christina Gill | Notts County SC | 51 | 41 | ‑53 | 29 | 53 | 44 | 218 |
46th | 2017 | ***MISSING*** | Jon willars | Nicola Willars | Notts County SC | 42 | 37 | ‑62 | 45 | 51 | 43 | 218 |
47th | 1052 | Shandy | Tom Sander‑Daniel | Alison Sheldrick | HCYC/HLSC | ‑63 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 46 | 39 | 222 |
48th | 2055 | There's no F in bags | Neil Spacagna | Paul McHenry | Babbacombe Corinthian SC | 49 | 19 | 37 | ‑68 | 57 | 61 | 223 |
49th | 1912 | Pigs on the wing | William Winter | LJ Winter | Cam Sailing Club | 50 | 42 | 52 | ‑53 | 36 | 48 | 228 |
50th | 1949 | Extravagance | Cheryl Jessop | Martin Worth | Brightlingsea Sailing Club | 43 | 44 | 48 | 43 | 50 | ‑64 | 228 |
51st | 1945 | ***MISSING*** | Paul Dean | Russell Hall | Fishers Green SC | ‑69 | 51 | 30 | 51 | 48 | 49 | 229 |
52nd | 2009 | Perdita | Neil Peters | Chris Hampshire | Pevensey Bay / Eastbourne Soverign SC | 48 | ‑56 | 56 | 48 | 54 | 25 | 231 |
53rd | 2015 | Touching the Void | Joanne Mahy | James Harcourt | Castle Cove SC | 53 | 53 | 47 | 42 | ‑63 | 37 | 232 |
54th | 1980 | Storm | Martin Pascoe | Tim Hulley | Castle Cove SC | 47 | 57 | 34 | ‑60 | 44 | 52 | 234 |
55th | 1985 | Another Wombat | Rob Morsley | Mandy Morsley | Portdinorwic Sailing Club | 55 | ‑61 | 36 | 54 | 59 | 40 | 244 |
56th | 1868 | Lady in Red | Austin Poulloin | Gav Poulloin | Castle Cove SC | 57 | 59 | (DNS) | 35 | 42 | 56 | 249 |
57th | 207 | Up Yours | Garry Knott | Jake Willars | Tbc | 60 | 58 | (DNS) | 49 | 45 | 50 | 262 |
58th | 1970 | Custard Tart | Robert York | Jacky York | Lymington Town SC | 58 | 26 | 72 | 56 | 65 | (DSQ) | 277 |
59th | 1993 | Aquatonic | Miles Hapgood | Steve Smith | Sidmouth SC | 52 | (DNC) | 58 | 63 | 70 | 34 | 277 |
60th | 2023 | Pincer Movement | Kevin Nicholls | Steve Gill | Notts County SC | 59 | 49 | 60 | ‑66 | 64 | 46 | 278 |
61st | 1919 | Polycrooz | Richard Gatehouse | Lauren Wills | Sidmouth SC | 54 | ‑64 | 51 | 55 | 58 | 62 | 280 |
62nd | 1991 | It's me or the boat | David Bennett | Martyn Tuohy‑Smith | Chew Valley Lake SC | 62 | 63 | 42 | 64 | ‑72 | 51 | 282 |
63rd | 1940 | Spitfire Summer | nigel denchfield | Chris Clarke | Grafham Water SC | ‑73 | 60 | 54 | 61 | 60 | 47 | 282 |
64th | 2036 | Head over Feet | Robert Campbell‑Gray | Angie Vale | Royal Harwich yacht club | 61 | 70 | 49 | (RET) | 52 | 67 | 299 |
65th | 1936 | Bottyburp the Barbarian | Simon Holden | Charlie Camm | King George SC | 56 | 66 | ‑69 | 50 | 62 | 68 | 302 |
66th | 1916 | Carte Bleue | Robin Jamieson | Jack Hodder | Castle Cove SC | 66 | 54 | 63 | 65 | ‑74 | 54 | 302 |
67th | 2027 | A La Carte | Richard Haines | Zoe Grant | Netley SC | 72 | (DNS) | 65 | 58 | 56 | 60 | 311 |
68th | 1959 | Princess Tiger Lily and lardy boys | Stephen Jordan | Karen Gredley | Hunts | 71 | 50 | (DNS) | 73 | 61 | 58 | 313 |
69th | 1903 | The Heart of Gold | Nicola Richards | Freddy Simpson | Castle Cove SC | 67 | 62 | ‑71 | 62 | 67 | 59 | 317 |
70th | 2056 | Delilah | Cheryl Wood | Henry Marks | Pennine SC | 65 | 67 | 67 | 67 | ‑68 | 53 | 319 |
71st | 1990 | Blue Breeze | Mark Whiteman | Sophie lona O'neill | Rye Harbour sailing club | 70 | 68 | 70 | ‑72 | 55 | 57 | 320 |
72nd | 2034 | Tight Screw | John Cooper | Anesta Cooper | Hunts | (RET) | 65 | 64 | 57 | 69 | 66 | 321 |
73rd | 1891 | Fire in the sky | Jeremy Lovell | Tor Lovell | Independent | 64 | 69 | 57 | ‑71 | 71 | 63 | 324 |
74th | 1988 | FAC 51 | Barny Croft | Louise Corfield | Sidmouth SC | 68 | 71 | 66 | 69 | 66 | (DNS) | 340 |
75th | 892 | Some more Chaos | Peter Bell | James Beckram | Castle Cove SC | ‑74 | 72 | 68 | 70 | 73 | 65 | 348 |
76th | 1646 | ***MISSING*** | Ben Walker | Matthew Walker | Castle Cove SC | 75 | 73 | (DNC) | 74 | 75 | 69 | 366 |