Scorpion Inland Championships at Datchet Water Sailing Club

When the fleet arrived on Saturday it was greeted with biblical rain with a shifty force 2 from the west, so the majority of the Scorpion fleet postponed rigging and went for breakfast and a brew. Once the tea was done rigging began not long after.

By the time the first race started the rain had cleared and the temperature started to rise along with everyone's sprits. Pete Gray and Richard Pepperdine (2022 Staunton Harold) and Pete Mitchell with Simon Forbes (2013 Staunton Harold) both had great starts and first beats. After a poor start Tom Gillard and Richard Anderton (2018 Sheffield Viking) slowly pulled through the fleet to take the win followed by Gray & Pepperdine. Next was Mitchell & Forbes then Andy McKee and Chris Massey (2026 Dovestone) in fourth.

In race 2 the wind faded away with major shifts. This time Gillard & Anderton started well and lead the first beat, but this was short lived. Gray & Pepperdine sailed strongly in the almost depleted wind to take the win, Mitchell & Forbes second. Alex Hayman & Sam Barker (2021 Sidmouth) rolled the dice and had a massive shift on the second beat to move ahead but finally settled for third.

Race 3 was similar to race 1. Gillard & Anderton pulled through to take the win, after much tussling with Mitchell & Forbes and McKee & Massey who finished second and third respectively.

So day 1 on the water ended too soon as all three races where held back-to-back in glorious sunshine and the turn around was so fantastic every was left hungry for more.

Day 2 saw sunny F2 conditions, this time joined by the Club sailors in a variety of boats from Radials to 49ers, making for a very busy course.

Race 4 saw an appearance of Ollie Wells & Penny Jeffcote (2033 Northampton) who sailed a fantastic race (even with a bandaged head from another pole-related injury; we think you need a helmet Ollie!). Bandage aside, this pairing went on to take the win after holding off the two ever consistent Petes.

Race 5 had more close racing: Gray took the win from Barry Wolfenden & Rachel Rhodes (2024 Chipstead), Mitchell & Forbes third, even with the race officer forgetting the finishing flag which lead to confusion.

In The final race Mitchell & Forbes need the win with Gray & Pepperdine fourth or lower. After the first beat it was looking like Gray & Pepperdine were firmly in control rounding first as Mitchell & Forbes were enjoying the company of the back of the fleet after a poor first beat. However on beat 2 after discussions of whether or not to call it a day they hit out left and came out smelling of roses along with 2018 and 2021 Narrowing Gray and cut Pepperdine's lead to just a few boat lengths.

After another tense run the final beat Gray failed to cover the casing pack sufficiently as the wind swung left meaning it was Alex Hayman rounding first followed by Mitchell, then Gillard and Gray in fourth meaning Mitchell just need to pass Hayman for the win. Gray was aware of this on rounding the wing mark headed up over Gillard who in turn went high on the defensive over Mitchell while Hayman sailed of to collect the win, with Wells/Jeffcote powering through to second in the increased breeze and Gillard/Anderton third.

A fantastic well done to Pete Gray and Richard Pepperdine who finished overall first to win the Scorpion Inland National Championships. Second place went to Peter Mitchell & Simon Forbes, with Tom Gillard & Rich Anderton in third.