Please select your home edition
Edition
CompareBoatInsurance Leaderboard

Scorpion class at Carnac 2014

by Simon Forbes 1 Jun 2014 21:19 BST 24-27 May 2014

A long long time ago, in a pub far, far away, some were Scorpion sailors sheltering from the typical British weather. In typical fashion, after a couple of light beverages, they were dreaming of being somewhere a lot warmer and drier, and it was here that the idea of Carnac 2014 was born.

Upon arrival, it became clear, that the dream had become a reality and not only had we bought the best boats, but also the most with a fleet of 25 boats.

Saturday's fun handicap race was held in a stiff breeze, on an Olympic course with a sizeable sausage which was ideal for sending it large downwind for the Scorpions. After 2 laps the race was over, but the whole fleet were having so much fun we decided to do another lap just for the fun of it! (not because we had failed to notice we had finished!!!) Peter Gray and Rich Pepperdine (2022) finished as first Scorpion, followed by Baz Wolfenden and Rach Rhodes (2024). Ryan and Hannah Buchanan (2028) came in 3rd. That evening the fleet went off to watch the cup final, enjoyed several rum cocktails and Tarquin managed to earn himself a loyalty discount ice cream.

Sunday dawned ready for the first day of serious racing. The weather was light but very sunny. Race 1 got underway in a light breeze, the Scorpions were second fleet to start, and were almost sent the wrong way around the course following the Merlin's, but as we have a better sense of direction we corrected ourselves and completed the course correctly. Making most of the first beat and first round the windward mark was Jack Banks and Penny Jeffcoate (2017). They managed to hold onto this lead for the whole race, just fending off Pete Mitchell and Simon Forbes (2013) from their charge carving up the fleet after rounding the first windward mark in 7th. Son and father combo Alex and Andy Hayman (2021) finished 3rd, with Peter Gray and Rich Pepperdine (2022) just pipping Colin and Jenny Bradley finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

In the second race, Gray/Pepperdine pulled out a great lead, only to be found to be ocs. This gave the lead and impressive race win to Oli Wells (2033) despite having the handicap of Mr Wade crewing. 2nd went to Banks/Jeffcoate and 3rd Mitchell/Forbes. The fleet then retired to the respective steering committees and crews unions.

Day 3 started with many teams wearing dark glasses and discussing how they got various injuries and their methods of getting back to the campsites. The days racing was dominated by Gray/Pepperdine getting 2 bullets. Wolfenden/Rhodes and Mitchell/Forbes had a good battle to take the other podium spots in race 3. Buchanan/Buchanan found their form in race 4 taking second, with Mitchell/Forbes finishing the day with another 3rd.

The final day of racing started with a light but building breeze. Again Gray/Pepperdine get 2 bullets sealing up the event. John Clementson and Mel Titmus (2019) had their best day of the regatta getting 2nd with Wolfenden/Rhodes 3rd. The fleet were a bit more relaxed during race 5 as Alex Hayman managed to distract the jury boat by breaking his rudder pintel and getting a lift to shore.

The final race of the series ended up with Mitchell/Forbes leading the fleet from start to finish, only to find out at the finish they were ocs. This handed the race win to Gray/Pepperdine, with Wolfenden/Rhodes having a great battle with Wells/Wade finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

This ended the regatta with Gray/Pepperdine taking the win, with Wolfenden/Rhodes taking second and Mitchell/Forbes 3rd.

A big thank you has got to be made to Tom Jeffcoate and his team of helpers for organising such a fantastic event and to Carnac Yacht Club for being great hosts. I hope I speak for the fleet in saying that we would love to come again to this fantastic event with fingers crossed even more boats!

Now to Datchet for the Inlands on June 7/8th before the Scorpion / Lark show down at Netly on the 14/15th... let's all get there to show those Larks that we have more fun and better turnouts!

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1 2022GRAY Peter PEPPERDINE Rich STAUNTON HAROLD4DNF11118
2 2024WOLFENDEN Barry RHODES Rachel CHIPSTEAD105243216
3 2013MITCHELL Pete FORBES Simon HAYLING ISLAND24336OCS18
4 2017BANKS Jack JEFFCOATE Penny WEST KIRBY SC124DNF7822
5 2033WELLS OLI WODE Dave NORTHAMPTON71685322
6 2028BUCHANAN Ryan BUCHANAN Hannah LYME REGIS8810241132
7 2005RITCHIE Janet RITCHIE Alan CHIPSTEAD675716732
8 1939SMITH Rob SMITH Sandra CASTLE COVE SC19137511945
9 2019CLEMENTSON John TITMUS Melanie CHIPSTEAD SC12158921546.5
10 2014PARSONS TIM LYME REGIS SC151016612548
11 2021HAYMAN Alex HAYMAN Andrew SIDMOUTH SAILING CLUB3613OCSDNF654
12 1952PEGG Elinor PARRY Adam YEALM YC133191281854
13 2001REVILL Guy WARBURTON Emma SIDMOUTH SC149916141258
14 2032MITCHELL STEVE NEWMAN Polly GRANDE‑BRETAGNE221218917460.5
15 1976HARTLEY TIM EDGE Hannah STAUNTON HAROLDOCS141215151066
16 1931WALKER Steve HANNABUSS Jerry PENNINE SC16162311101467
17 2030BRADLEY COLIN BRADLEY Jenny PENNINE SC5112214212172
18 2023SEARLE Richard SEARLE Lucy WARSASH SC111815OCS92073
19 2027HAINES Carol HAINES Jon ELTON SC9171417181774
20 2002PUGH HELENA PUGH Colin POOLE YACHT CLUB1720111822DNF88
21 1930CAM MARK READ Mussell HRSC212121OCS131389
22 1936HOLDEN Simon PINNOCK William KING GEORGE SC20231713DNF2295
23 1993HAPGOOD Miles SMITH Steve SIDMOUTH SC18192419201995
24 1959YATES Chris BARKER Dave EASTBOURNE242220DNF1916101
25 1892STEPHENS Alison FORREST Christopher CASTLE COVE SC232425202323113

carnac2014.org

Related Articles

RYA Female Scorpion Project camp 1
Weymouth hosts small group coached by RYA, then by Stevie & Phil Morrison After the trials in April the FSP kicked off with the five day Camp 1 at WPNSA at Portland in Dorset. Posted on 26 Jun
Scorpion Inlands at Chew Valley Lake
A needless scramble to find lifting rudders for the occasion 38 Scorpion sailors assembled in the sunshine at Chew Valley ready for the 2025 Inland Championship. After viewing the weed islands in some corners of the lake there was a scramble to find lifting rudders for the occasion. Posted on 17 Jun
Coppet Week Regatta 2025 at Saundersfoot
Disrupted by strong winds after the amazing spring weather After one of the longest stretches of Spring sunshine in West Wales for a long time the opening Sunday of Saundersfoot Sailing Club's Coppet Week Regatta saw a noticeable change in the weather. Posted on 13 Jun
Scorpion Open at Rock
If you weren't there you missed out I'm going to start by saying... if you weren't there you missed out - that was the best Scorpion open meeting I've even been to. Posted on 5 May
Out to play this weekend
Fair winds are forecast, the P&B team is heading to the coast Fair winds are forecast, the team's heading to the coast. We're back on the road, maximising time on the water this bank holiday with Scorpion, Europe and Lark events at Rock and the Flying Fifteens at Hayling Island. Posted on 3 May
Scorpion Staunton Spring Sprints
A great opportunity to tune starting practice and boat handling skills A sprint racing event in early April has become a bit of a tradition for the Scorpion Class with Staunton Harold SC hosting this year's event again. Posted on 14 Apr
Triggernaut sponsors Scorpion Youth Series
Initiative provides young sailors with the opportunity to develop their skills Triggernaut Sports Glasses, a leading brand in high-performance sports eyewear, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the prestigious Scorpion Sailing Youth Series. This partnership underscores Triggernaut's commitment to the sport. Posted on 1 Apr
Staunton Harold Scorpion Sprints are back
The legendary Staunton hospitality will be in play with BBQ and social planned Come and join us on 5-6 April for another classic edition of sprint racing with as many sprint races as we can fit in within the race time. This event promises to be the perfect way to launch this year's Silver Scorpion. Posted on 28 Mar
Calling all female dinghy sailors!
Get your RYA Female Scorpion Project applications in by 21st March The RYA Female Scorpion Project is a unique opportunity to learn how to tune racing dinghies, not just what settings to use. It will give you a real understanding, transferable to other boats and classes. Posted on 8 Mar
Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series Prize Giving
Gillard and Gray are repeat winners of the crown More than a decade after they last won the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray have done it again... Posted on 25 Feb