Scorpion Open at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

Scorpions at Chew Valley Lake © Errol Edwards

Twenty four Scorpions took part in the open at Chew Valley over the weekend of 12th and 13th May. A strong fleet included most of the front runners from last years championships. The weather was fine but the winds were light and variable on the Saturday and many competitors found themselves alternately favoured or dumped as the wind came in from one side or the other of the beat.

In two races the Scorpion fleet caught and mingled with the Flying Fifteens who had started ahead and this created some challenging mark roundings as the wind filled in and bunched the fleets together.

Tom Gillard and Ollie Wells showed consistent form winning both races but the rest of the fleet had mixed results. The current National Champion, Tom Jeffcoate with Tom Pygall counted a second and a fifth, with Steve and Sarah Cockerill lying third with a third and a fifth.

There were cheers when the race officer brought an early end to the day, postponing the third race until the following morning. The fleet retired to the club for chilli and beers.

Sunday brought a stronger breeze from the Southwest but still subject to substantial shifts. Former national champion John Mursell and Nick Keast won the third race, followed by Pete Gray and Simon Forbes. Gillard and Wells were back at the front winning races four and five from Mursell and Andy McKee.

This was the strongest Scorpion turnout at Chew for more than 10 years with many of the new foam sandwich hulls at the front and a healthy influx of younger crews moving up through the fleet.

Overall Results: