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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

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
1st2057The Essence of WetnessThomas GillardRachael GrayStaunton Harold SC11‑53‑5112413
2nd2051Mrs Bears BoatOllie MeadowcroftSimon ForbesStaunton Harold SC3214‑62‑66523
3rd1929L'Espirit de TurnipJoe WarwickerAndy ServiceShoreham SC6‑18811‑15111230
4th2062Sam squaredSam pascoeSam barkerCastle Cove SC2436737‑23‑1132
5th2058Just the tipPeter GrayRichard PepperdineStaunton Harold SC58‑102295‑11334
6th2053***MISSING***Matt BurgeRob GardnerNotts County SC43‑258‑252123142
7th2037Fifty Shades of GreyDan HendersonAmy ClayWarsash SC‑9‑14653597944
8th2061Silver MulletDave WadeBen RaynerDraycote / Yorkshire Dales SC‑16107101013‑349867
9th2041Hot FussCatherine MaguireAndrea FellowsLymington Town SC‑281721144‑33102068
10th2042***MISSING***Angus HemmingsFraser HemmingsIndependent14‑2911915‑23351370
11th2026Sneaky NinjaChris MartinJohn TailbyNotts County SC135‑2016‑3971981078
12th2028Blue StealRyan BuchananHannah BuchananWarsash SC71116‑211314144(DNC)79
13th2030Saline DripVince HoreyOliver RaynerYorkshire Dales SC8‑24472062317‑2985
14th2022QuakersJohn ClemetsonStephen GrahamStaunton Harold SC17‑2214159(RET)8141693
15th2005Drama QueenJanet RitchieAlan RitchieSidmouth SC‑2271714‑271210211495
16th1939Ice On FireAdrian SmithRobert SmithCastle Cove SC/HSSC101315258‑4521‑2717109
17th204Discreet BananaJock FellowsSimon MaguireCastle Cove SC18623‑2612161725(DNC)117
18th2018***MISSING***Nigel PotterJerry HannabussNotts County SC12‑312717161924‑4012127
19th2024Big Bad WolfSandra SmithJeni RichardsCastle Cove SC459‑5522118‑601921135
20th2063EileenIan CadwalladerEllie DevereuxChew Valley Lake SC203529‑4718(RET)15127136
21st1923OrinocoAlistair ClarkeChloe ClarkeCastle Cove SC21‑36912222830‑3719141
22nd1997PeachesSamantha MasonRichard MasonNotts County SC3823‑611814111329(DNC)146
23rd2039Inside VoiceNeville HerbertKarl ThorneLymington Town SC‑3612‑33282131182815153
24th2043Real Rockin RollerBarry WolfendenMatt RaynerBough Beech312513‑33‑3724162024153
25th1958***MISSING***Matt potterKevin HopeNotts County SC23152219281731‑38(DNC)155
26th2025Wot A WombatNigel HuftonRachael JenkinsFrensham Pond SC2427182032‑35‑411522158
27th2044TallulahAndrew PetersMartyn DenchfieldCastle Cove SC29‑39122719183226‑34163
28th2001ZephyrGraeme BristowJosh OatesSouth Cerney192826‑3424‑38223118168
29th2054In a minuteTom LonsdaleEmily BattertonWest Oxford SC‑35‑483130342629186174
30th1995SilverlodePeter RoseJohn RoseTenby‑323224‑373110252230174
31st2014IntoxicatedAJ EatonChris EatonStarcross‑41161939382212‑4133179
32nd1986Secret SquirrelDavid HallPaul ConstableBlackwater SC113038(DNC)(DNC)20263226183
33rd2052Heart of GlassJohn ReayRob CageThames Sailing Club26‑5235‑38333643327194
34th1969Water PleaseOliver FellowsWilliam AdlerCastle Cove SC33‑55‑45244029272423200
35th2031Up Yours 2Peter CrowtherDave ThompsonPennine SC3720‑443130332830(DNC)209
36th1951SidewinderFiona TaylorGordon TaylorLymington Town SC39‑45321317(DSQ)404428213
37th2021Snap Shackel & PlopJames SalterMax HaymenSidmouth SC / Gosford SC27212840‑41(DNS)383531220
38th1943Blue MoonJohn MursellMatthew PalmerCastle Cove SC2546212329(DNC)37‑6243224
39th1880Shock WaveMike LennonSteve WalkerPennine SC15‑43403223413639(DNC)226
40th1980StormMartin PascoeTim HulleyCastle Cove SC47‑5734‑604452201625238
41st1937The Bee's KneesMyles JacksonBill JacksonLlandegfedd SC‑4633‑50362627443641243
42nd2060A date with destinyRussell WheelerLee MarriottIsle of Sheppey Sailing Club3040‑59413532‑564337258
43rd2055There's no F in bagsNeil SpacagnaPaul McHenryBabbacombe Corinthian SC491937‑6857‑61481346269
44th1981Highway StarDave ElstonBen RichardsonCastle Cove SC3438394649‑55‑514232280
45th2048Liquid SpiritChris YatesDave BarkerDraycote443441‑59474239‑5536283
46th2059Wrecking BallEdward ParsonsTony HanlonEmsworth SC40(RET)43‑524330424938285
47th2017***MISSING***Jon willarsNicola WillarsNotts County SC4237‑6245514346‑5235299
48th1912Pigs on the wingWilliam WinterLJ WinterCam Sailing Club504252‑533648‑553440302
49th2009PerditaNeil PetersChris HampshirePevensey Bay / Eastbourne Soverign SC48‑56‑56485425504639310
50th1985Another WombatRob MorsleyMandy MorsleyPortdinorwic Sailing Club55‑613654‑5940354550315
51st2049Pickled WombatDavid SnutchChristina GillNotts County SC514153295344‑63‑5445316
52nd1052ShandyTom Sander‑DanielAlison SheldrickHCYC/HLSC‑634746444639‑535144317
53rd1949ExtravaganceCheryl JessopMartin WorthBrightlingsea Sailing Club4344484350‑6449‑5342319
54th1945***MISSING***Paul DeanRussell HallFishers Green SC‑69513051484943‑5653325
55th2015Touching the VoidJoanne MahyJames HarcourtCastle Cove SC53534742‑6337‑685959350
56th1868Lady in RedAustin PoulloinGav PoulloinCastle Cove SC5759(DNS)3542564560(DNC)354
57th1919PolycroozRichard GatehouseLauren WillsSidmouth SC54‑64515558‑62525054374
58th1970Custard TartRobert YorkAlex GibsonLymington Town SC5826‑725665(DSQ)596448376
59th1993AquatonicMiles HapgoodSteve SmithSidmouth SC52(DNC)5863‑7034625851378
60th2036Head over FeetRobert Campbell‑GrayAngie ValeRoyal Harwich yacht club61‑7049(RET)5267544749379
61st207Up YoursGarry KnottJake WillarsTbc6058(DNS)4945505766(DNC)385
62nd2023Pincer MovementKevin NichollsSteve GillNotts County SC594960‑666446‑656152391
63rd1940Spitfire Summernigel denchfieldChris ClarkeGrafham Water SC‑736054616047‑665758397
64th1991It's me or the boatDavid BennettMartyn Tuohy‑SmithChew Valley Lake SC62634264‑7251‑716947398
65th1916Carte BleueRobin JamiesonJack HodderCastle Cove SC66546365‑745447‑6756405
66th2027A La CarteRichard HainesZoe GrantNetley SC72(DNS)655856606148(RET)420
67th1936Bottyburp the BarbarianSimon HoldenCharlie CammKing George SC56666950626858(RET)(DNC)429
68th1959Princess Tiger Lily and lardy boysStephen JordanKaren GredleyHunts7150(DNS)‑736158696360432
69th2056DelilahCheryl WoodHenry MarksPennine SC65676767‑6853‑706855442
70th2034Tight ScrewJohn CooperAnesta CooperHunts(RET)656457‑6966676563447
71st1891Fire in the skyJeremy LovellTor LovellIndependent646957‑71‑7163647061448
72nd1990Blue BreezeMark WhitemanSophie lona O'neillRye Harbour sailing club706870‑725557‑727257449
73rd1903The Heart of GoldNicola RichardsFreddy SimpsonCastle Cove SC676271626759(DNC)(DNC)DNC465
74th892Some more ChaosPeter BellJames BeckramCastle Cove SC‑74726870‑7365737162481
75th1988FAC 51Barny CroftLouise CorfieldSidmouth SC6871666966(DNS)(DNC)DNCDNC494
76th1646***MISSING***Ben WalkerMatthew WalkerCastle Cove SC7573(DNC)7475697473(DNC)513

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