TCL Scorpion National Championship 2024 at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Overall
by Tom Daniel and Alison Sheldrick 2 Aug 05:46 UTC
28 July - 2 August 2024
Hello from 1052, amazingly, not the oldest boat in the fleet at this Nationals at 54 years old! We think its great that old boats can still be competitive which helps to create closeness of racing all the way through the fleet.
Anyway, onto the business of our Day 5 report. So here's a vintage boat's perspective from deep in the melée of mid fleet racing...
The prelude
A serious physical test. A tough mental battle. And only one winner. We are of course talking about the epic games night, kindly organised by Sam Pascoe which we are all recovering from today! Another scorcher with flat calm greeting the early risers. We've not been blessed with big breeze this week but the first sunlight has been welcome for a vitamin D deficient Northerner! So as well as being a cracking champs, it has also been a holiday with beaches either side of the club. Castle Cove; you are blessed!
As we waited for the rumoured South Westerly breeze to arrive (we're never sure where these rumours start!) the usual build up ensued. We were blessed again with some incredible coaching from Adam Bowers. This has been an absolute godsend and really has offered food for thought to most of the fleet. Today's focus was rules - the result being a newfound revival of the word "protested" heard across the bay!
The racing
Going into the day, it was all to play for across the fleet, with 1 point seperating the leaders and several boats very much in the running. The 6 races held previously meant this would be the deciding day and the final opportunity. In summary, there were some big shifts, the left side of the course paid and it was going to be a sweaty one!
Race 7
We got underway with a light South Westerly and after 1 general recall due to a huge shift as the gate boat set off.
Those who went early did well but those who kept all the way left and ended up overstood had to deal with some serious mayhem at the first mark. What seemed like the first strong tide of the week caught everyone off guard with most of the fleet sat pinching and rafting with a chorus of shouting ringing out across the harbour. Port layers like us had a torrid time trying to get round and it's fair to say that spending time getting to know the marks up close and personal does you no favours...
Despite all the chaos, it was Gilly and Rach who rounded first and went on to extend and take the win. This ultimately put the pressure on the rest of the fleet and things were starting to look ominous! 2nd and 3rd went to Matt Burge/Rob Gardner and Angus/Fraser Hemmings respectively.
Race 8
This race got away cleanly with light breeze at times. It was Joe Warwicker and Andy Service in 1929 who managed to sneak ahead by the windward mark and extended their lead quite impressively. This result has landed them third overall so a great sign that wooden boats are fast.
2nd was Gilly and Rach who at this time had won the event with a race to spare. And coming in 3rd were Matt Burge and Rob Gardner.
Race 9
After another abandoned start, the fleet eventually got away cleanly. And finally, we had some champagne conditions. The last reaches finally saw scorpions in their natural environment (3 sails, bows up and flying along).
It was Matt Burge and Rob Gardner who got an absolute flyer off the line going early and were seen reaching into the windward mark on port. They simply extended from here for a well deserved first win of the event. 2nd were Joe Warwicker and Andy Service, wrapping up a great event and 3rd Pete and Rich.
All the hard graft was worth it for the post sail cold beer and pasty/samosa/snack - it shouldn't be a key reason we love the Scorpion Nationals but it's always a great touch.
The big one: the final night festivities and the Scorpions legendary fancy dress (Olympic themed).
The amazing social programme put together for this event has been building nicely towards a big finale. Rumour has it, our fleet's reputation for drinking clubs dry had the bar team making last minute additions to their usual order. Did the fleet see this as a challenge? Absolutely! And if fancy dress, drinking or Dad dancing were Olympic events, the Scorpion fleet would have some serious medal contenders.
If Team GB are looking for inspiration, then look no further than the effort put into our Olympic themed fancy dress party which is well underway at the time of writing. The outfits, clearly inspired by a lot of Olympics being broadcast on the big screen during our delays throughout the week. Who will win the coveted Peaches of Pennine costume trophy, we are yet to see...
We've already had the appearance of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team, a candlelit dinner of Olympic torches and representation from every sport under the sun (though we've not seen any slightly smelly sailing fancy dress funnily enough...)
This will hopefully be an epic party and is always the most fantastic way to have a huge send off for what has been an amazing event. So a huge thank you to the organisers and Castle Cove for an excellent programme of racing and socials alike.
Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Scorpion nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here
Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
1st | 2057 | The Essence of Wetness | Thomas Gillard | Rachael Gray | Staunton Harold SC | 1 | 1 | ‑5 | 3 | ‑5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
2nd | 2051 | Mrs Bears Boat | Ollie Meadowcroft | Simon Forbes | Staunton Harold SC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ‑6 | 2 | ‑6 | 6 | 5 | 23 |
3rd | 1929 | L'Espirit de Turnip | Joe Warwicker | Andy Service | Shoreham SC | 6 | ‑18 | 8 | 1 | 1 | ‑15 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 30 |
4th | 2062 | Sam squared | Sam pascoe | Sam barker | Castle Cove SC | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | ‑23 | ‑11 | 32 |
5th | 2058 | Just the tip | Peter Gray | Richard Pepperdine | Staunton Harold SC | 5 | 8 | ‑10 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | ‑11 | 3 | 34 |
6th | 2053 | ***MISSING*** | Matt Burge | Rob Gardner | Notts County SC | 4 | 3 | ‑25 | 8 | ‑25 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 42 |
7th | 2037 | Fifty Shades of Grey | Dan Henderson | Amy Clay | Warsash SC | ‑9 | ‑14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 44 |
8th | 2061 | Silver Mullet | Dave Wade | Ben Rayner | Draycote / Yorkshire Dales SC | ‑16 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 13 | ‑34 | 9 | 8 | 67 |
9th | 2041 | Hot Fuss | Catherine Maguire | Andrea Fellows | Lymington Town SC | ‑28 | 17 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 4 | ‑33 | 10 | 20 | 68 |
10th | 2042 | ***MISSING*** | Angus Hemmings | Fraser Hemmings | Independent | 14 | ‑29 | 11 | 9 | 15 | ‑23 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 70 |
11th | 2026 | Sneaky Ninja | Chris Martin | John Tailby | Notts County SC | 13 | 5 | ‑20 | 16 | ‑39 | 7 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 78 |
12th | 2028 | Blue Steal | Ryan Buchanan | Hannah Buchanan | Warsash SC | 7 | 11 | 16 | ‑21 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 4 | (DNC) | 79 |
13th | 2030 | Saline Drip | Vince Horey | Oliver Rayner | Yorkshire Dales SC | 8 | ‑24 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 6 | 23 | 17 | ‑29 | 85 |
14th | 2022 | Quakers | John Clemetson | Stephen Graham | Staunton Harold SC | 17 | ‑22 | 14 | 15 | 9 | (RET) | 8 | 14 | 16 | 93 |
15th | 2005 | Drama Queen | Janet Ritchie | Alan Ritchie | Sidmouth SC | ‑22 | 7 | 17 | 14 | ‑27 | 12 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 95 |
16th | 1939 | Ice On Fire | Adrian Smith | Robert Smith | Castle Cove SC/HSSC | 10 | 13 | 15 | 25 | 8 | ‑45 | 21 | ‑27 | 17 | 109 |
17th | 204 | Discreet Banana | Jock Fellows | Simon Maguire | Castle Cove SC | 18 | 6 | 23 | ‑26 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 25 | (DNC) | 117 |
18th | 2018 | ***MISSING*** | Nigel Potter | Jerry Hannabuss | Notts County SC | 12 | ‑31 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 24 | ‑40 | 12 | 127 |
19th | 2024 | Big Bad Wolf | Sandra Smith | Jeni Richards | Castle Cove SC | 45 | 9 | ‑55 | 22 | 11 | 8 | ‑60 | 19 | 21 | 135 |
20th | 2063 | Eileen | Ian Cadwallader | Ellie Devereux | Chew Valley Lake SC | 20 | 35 | 29 | ‑47 | 18 | (RET) | 15 | 12 | 7 | 136 |
21st | 1923 | Orinoco | Alistair Clarke | Chloe Clarke | Castle Cove SC | 21 | ‑36 | 9 | 12 | 22 | 28 | 30 | ‑37 | 19 | 141 |
22nd | 1997 | Peaches | Samantha Mason | Richard Mason | Notts County SC | 38 | 23 | ‑61 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 29 | (DNC) | 146 |
23rd | 2039 | Inside Voice | Neville Herbert | Karl Thorne | Lymington Town SC | ‑36 | 12 | ‑33 | 28 | 21 | 31 | 18 | 28 | 15 | 153 |
24th | 2043 | Real Rockin Roller | Barry Wolfenden | Matt Rayner | Bough Beech | 31 | 25 | 13 | ‑33 | ‑37 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 153 |
25th | 1958 | ***MISSING*** | Matt potter | Kevin Hope | Notts County SC | 23 | 15 | 22 | 19 | 28 | 17 | 31 | ‑38 | (DNC) | 155 |
26th | 2025 | Wot A Wombat | Nigel Hufton | Rachael Jenkins | Frensham Pond SC | 24 | 27 | 18 | 20 | 32 | ‑35 | ‑41 | 15 | 22 | 158 |
27th | 2044 | Tallulah | Andrew Peters | Martyn Denchfield | Castle Cove SC | 29 | ‑39 | 12 | 27 | 19 | 18 | 32 | 26 | ‑34 | 163 |
28th | 2001 | Zephyr | Graeme Bristow | Josh Oates | South Cerney | 19 | 28 | 26 | ‑34 | 24 | ‑38 | 22 | 31 | 18 | 168 |
29th | 2054 | In a minute | Tom Lonsdale | Emily Batterton | West Oxford SC | ‑35 | ‑48 | 31 | 30 | 34 | 26 | 29 | 18 | 6 | 174 |
30th | 1995 | Silverlode | Peter Rose | John Rose | Tenby | ‑32 | 32 | 24 | ‑37 | 31 | 10 | 25 | 22 | 30 | 174 |
31st | 2014 | Intoxicated | AJ Eaton | Chris Eaton | Starcross | ‑41 | 16 | 19 | 39 | 38 | 22 | 12 | ‑41 | 33 | 179 |
32nd | 1986 | Secret Squirrel | David Hall | Paul Constable | Blackwater SC | 11 | 30 | 38 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 20 | 26 | 32 | 26 | 183 |
33rd | 2052 | Heart of Glass | John Reay | Rob Cage | Thames Sailing Club | 26 | ‑52 | 35 | ‑38 | 33 | 36 | 4 | 33 | 27 | 194 |
34th | 1969 | Water Please | Oliver Fellows | William Adler | Castle Cove SC | 33 | ‑55 | ‑45 | 24 | 40 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 200 |
35th | 2031 | Up Yours 2 | Peter Crowther | Dave Thompson | Pennine SC | 37 | 20 | ‑44 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 30 | (DNC) | 209 |
36th | 1951 | Sidewinder | Fiona Taylor | Gordon Taylor | Lymington Town SC | 39 | ‑45 | 32 | 13 | 17 | (DSQ) | 40 | 44 | 28 | 213 |
37th | 2021 | Snap Shackel & Plop | James Salter | Max Haymen | Sidmouth SC / Gosford SC | 27 | 21 | 28 | 40 | ‑41 | (DNS) | 38 | 35 | 31 | 220 |
38th | 1943 | Blue Moon | John Mursell | Matthew Palmer | Castle Cove SC | 25 | 46 | 21 | 23 | 29 | (DNC) | 37 | ‑62 | 43 | 224 |
39th | 1880 | Shock Wave | Mike Lennon | Steve Walker | Pennine SC | 15 | ‑43 | 40 | 32 | 23 | 41 | 36 | 39 | (DNC) | 226 |
40th | 1980 | Storm | Martin Pascoe | Tim Hulley | Castle Cove SC | 47 | ‑57 | 34 | ‑60 | 44 | 52 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 238 |
41st | 1937 | The Bee's Knees | Myles Jackson | Bill Jackson | Llandegfedd SC | ‑46 | 33 | ‑50 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 44 | 36 | 41 | 243 |
42nd | 2060 | A date with destiny | Russell Wheeler | Lee Marriott | Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club | 30 | 40 | ‑59 | 41 | 35 | 32 | ‑56 | 43 | 37 | 258 |
43rd | 2055 | There's no F in bags | Neil Spacagna | Paul McHenry | Babbacombe Corinthian SC | 49 | 19 | 37 | ‑68 | 57 | ‑61 | 48 | 13 | 46 | 269 |
44th | 1981 | Highway Star | Dave Elston | Ben Richardson | Castle Cove SC | 34 | 38 | 39 | 46 | 49 | ‑55 | ‑51 | 42 | 32 | 280 |
45th | 2048 | Liquid Spirit | Chris Yates | Dave Barker | Draycote | 44 | 34 | 41 | ‑59 | 47 | 42 | 39 | ‑55 | 36 | 283 |
46th | 2059 | Wrecking Ball | Edward Parsons | Tony Hanlon | Emsworth SC | 40 | (RET) | 43 | ‑52 | 43 | 30 | 42 | 49 | 38 | 285 |
47th | 2017 | ***MISSING*** | Jon willars | Nicola Willars | Notts County SC | 42 | 37 | ‑62 | 45 | 51 | 43 | 46 | ‑52 | 35 | 299 |
48th | 1912 | Pigs on the wing | William Winter | LJ Winter | Cam Sailing Club | 50 | 42 | 52 | ‑53 | 36 | 48 | ‑55 | 34 | 40 | 302 |
49th | 2009 | Perdita | Neil Peters | Chris Hampshire | Pevensey Bay / Eastbourne Soverign SC | 48 | ‑56 | ‑56 | 48 | 54 | 25 | 50 | 46 | 39 | 310 |
50th | 1985 | Another Wombat | Rob Morsley | Mandy Morsley | Portdinorwic Sailing Club | 55 | ‑61 | 36 | 54 | ‑59 | 40 | 35 | 45 | 50 | 315 |
51st | 2049 | Pickled Wombat | David Snutch | Christina Gill | Notts County SC | 51 | 41 | 53 | 29 | 53 | 44 | ‑63 | ‑54 | 45 | 316 |
52nd | 1052 | Shandy | Tom Sander‑Daniel | Alison Sheldrick | HCYC/HLSC | ‑63 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 46 | 39 | ‑53 | 51 | 44 | 317 |
53rd | 1949 | Extravagance | Cheryl Jessop | Martin Worth | Brightlingsea Sailing Club | 43 | 44 | 48 | 43 | 50 | ‑64 | 49 | ‑53 | 42 | 319 |
54th | 1945 | ***MISSING*** | Paul Dean | Russell Hall | Fishers Green SC | ‑69 | 51 | 30 | 51 | 48 | 49 | 43 | ‑56 | 53 | 325 |
55th | 2015 | Touching the Void | Joanne Mahy | James Harcourt | Castle Cove SC | 53 | 53 | 47 | 42 | ‑63 | 37 | ‑68 | 59 | 59 | 350 |
56th | 1868 | Lady in Red | Austin Poulloin | Gav Poulloin | Castle Cove SC | 57 | 59 | (DNS) | 35 | 42 | 56 | 45 | 60 | (DNC) | 354 |
57th | 1919 | Polycrooz | Richard Gatehouse | Lauren Wills | Sidmouth SC | 54 | ‑64 | 51 | 55 | 58 | ‑62 | 52 | 50 | 54 | 374 |
58th | 1970 | Custard Tart | Robert York | Alex Gibson | Lymington Town SC | 58 | 26 | ‑72 | 56 | 65 | (DSQ) | 59 | 64 | 48 | 376 |
59th | 1993 | Aquatonic | Miles Hapgood | Steve Smith | Sidmouth SC | 52 | (DNC) | 58 | 63 | ‑70 | 34 | 62 | 58 | 51 | 378 |
60th | 2036 | Head over Feet | Robert Campbell‑Gray | Angie Vale | Royal Harwich yacht club | 61 | ‑70 | 49 | (RET) | 52 | 67 | 54 | 47 | 49 | 379 |
61st | 207 | Up Yours | Garry Knott | Jake Willars | Tbc | 60 | 58 | (DNS) | 49 | 45 | 50 | 57 | 66 | (DNC) | 385 |
62nd | 2023 | Pincer Movement | Kevin Nicholls | Steve Gill | Notts County SC | 59 | 49 | 60 | ‑66 | 64 | 46 | ‑65 | 61 | 52 | 391 |
63rd | 1940 | Spitfire Summer | nigel denchfield | Chris Clarke | Grafham Water SC | ‑73 | 60 | 54 | 61 | 60 | 47 | ‑66 | 57 | 58 | 397 |
64th | 1991 | It's me or the boat | David Bennett | Martyn Tuohy‑Smith | Chew Valley Lake SC | 62 | 63 | 42 | 64 | ‑72 | 51 | ‑71 | 69 | 47 | 398 |
65th | 1916 | Carte Bleue | Robin Jamieson | Jack Hodder | Castle Cove SC | 66 | 54 | 63 | 65 | ‑74 | 54 | 47 | ‑67 | 56 | 405 |
66th | 2027 | A La Carte | Richard Haines | Zoe Grant | Netley SC | 72 | (DNS) | 65 | 58 | 56 | 60 | 61 | 48 | (RET) | 420 |
67th | 1936 | Bottyburp the Barbarian | Simon Holden | Charlie Camm | King George SC | 56 | 66 | 69 | 50 | 62 | 68 | 58 | (RET) | (DNC) | 429 |
68th | 1959 | Princess Tiger Lily and lardy boys | Stephen Jordan | Karen Gredley | Hunts | 71 | 50 | (DNS) | ‑73 | 61 | 58 | 69 | 63 | 60 | 432 |
69th | 2056 | Delilah | Cheryl Wood | Henry Marks | Pennine SC | 65 | 67 | 67 | 67 | ‑68 | 53 | ‑70 | 68 | 55 | 442 |
70th | 2034 | Tight Screw | John Cooper | Anesta Cooper | Hunts | (RET) | 65 | 64 | 57 | ‑69 | 66 | 67 | 65 | 63 | 447 |
71st | 1891 | Fire in the sky | Jeremy Lovell | Tor Lovell | Independent | 64 | 69 | 57 | ‑71 | ‑71 | 63 | 64 | 70 | 61 | 448 |
72nd | 1990 | Blue Breeze | Mark Whiteman | Sophie lona O'neill | Rye Harbour sailing club | 70 | 68 | 70 | ‑72 | 55 | 57 | ‑72 | 72 | 57 | 449 |
73rd | 1903 | The Heart of Gold | Nicola Richards | Freddy Simpson | Castle Cove SC | 67 | 62 | 71 | 62 | 67 | 59 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 465 |
74th | 892 | Some more Chaos | Peter Bell | James Beckram | Castle Cove SC | ‑74 | 72 | 68 | 70 | ‑73 | 65 | 73 | 71 | 62 | 481 |
75th | 1988 | FAC 51 | Barny Croft | Louise Corfield | Sidmouth SC | 68 | 71 | 66 | 69 | 66 | (DNS) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 494 |
76th | 1646 | ***MISSING*** | Ben Walker | Matthew Walker | Castle Cove SC | 75 | 73 | (DNC) | 74 | 75 | 69 | 74 | 73 | (DNC) | 513 |