Scorpion Junior Open at Notts County Sailing Club
by Tom Jeffcoate 18 Jul 2011 16:47 BST
2 July 2011
Scorpion Junior open at Notts County © Martyn Denchfield
A turnout of 9 boats were greeted by a beautiful summer morning but no wind. All boats came from the home club but 3 visitors turned up to make up the teams two of whom were trying the Scorpion for the first time.
Convinced that the tiny ripples were caused by more than the flapping of canada geese RO Rachel McEvoy ably assisted by class coaches Steve Walker and Barry Rawlins attempted to lay a course. By the time everyone gathered for the briefing it became apparent that it may well turn out to be a running start.
And so it was but spinnakers helped little as boats drifted towards the first mark.
Current class fleet leader at Notts Jeff Peters in 2007 with first time junior crew Jack Cox made the best of the light conditions and pulled out a big lead. The drifting pack tussled for position and it was Russ Clay with junior crew Amy Collet who showed early form in 2000 but his decision not to confuse Amy with the pleasures of a bag boat spinnaker was to prove his undoing as he was soon overtaken by his daughter and son Amy & Jack in his own boat. After the excitement of a little bit of wind it dropped to nothing again and Rachel declared an early lunch. Jeff and Jack had held their lead for the win. Amy & Jack Clay second. And NCSC junior Matt Reynolds crewed and coached by Nadina Lincoln in 1919 took 3rd.
A promising bit of breeze arrived as the fleet finished lunch and it stayed long enough to allow two decent back to back contests.
It was clear that no one was going to get the better of Jeff & Jack as they won both by comfortable margins. Junior NCSC helm Rebbeca Ogden crewed by Chris Holt in 1988 showed some consistency with a 3rd & 2nd. Matt and Nadina split the podium in R2 but visiting junior crew Julian Forde from Midlands SC helped local helm Tony Dunsworth to 3rd place in R3 in 1929.
In a dropping wind the race team bravely attempted a 4th race back to back but as it left us again it was a struggle to finish. In the end the top 3 were Jeff, Amy, and Rebbeca.
It was great to welcome Chris Winter also from Midlands SC who had his first go at helming 1975 with owner Nick Orgles and Peter Hardy from Wanlip SC crewing for John Wells in 1865. Junior Alex Hughes crewed by owner Graham Sheard made up the full compliment and despite the variable and often non existent breeze it was a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Overall Results:
1st 2007, J Peters/J Cox (j)
2nd 1988, R Ogden (J)/C Holt
3rd 1989, A Clay(J)/J Clay(J)
4th 1919, M Reynolds(J)/N Lincoln
5th 1929, T Dunsworth/J Forde (J)
6th 1865, J Wells/P Hardy(J)
7th 1975, C Winter (J)/N Orgles
8th 2000, R Clay/A Collet(J)
9th 1985, A Hughes (J)/G Sheard