Zhik CoastWaterSports Scorpion Nationals at Lyme Regis Sailing Club

Andy McKee and Chris Massey win the 2015 Scorpion Nationals © Penny Jeffcoate

What a cracking week!

I think it is safe to say that everyone had a brilliant time at the Zhik and CoastWaterSports Scorpion Nationals at Lyme Regis SC. We had a few days of wind and waves, a few days of bobbing about with some crazy shifts, and many evenings celebrating in the club. Throughout the week Race Officer Allan Tyler and his team did a great job shifting marks (during pretty much every race!), setting great reaches for our lovely Scorpion spinnakers to come into their own, and getting in 1 Practice Race, 9 Event Races and the classic Crew's Race. Full results for all of these can be found on the Scorpion Class website.

The usual suspects had some really competitive racing, with 7 different race winners out of the 9 races, consisting of Andy McKee and Chris Massey, Tom Jeffcoate and Tom Pygall, Pete Gray and Richard Pepperdine, Chris Turner and Alex Hayman, Pete Mitchell and Simon Forbes, Peter and John Rose and last but not least Janet and Alan Ritchie – first female race win helm in over 30 years! She even got presented with her trophy by the previous female race winner Carol Haines.

We also welcomed some newcomers to the Nationals, including Youth Combo Elysia Dooley and Jake Willars (with a combined age of less than 30!) and Jake's dad and sister John and Chloe, winners of the First Nationals Trophy and aforementioned Crew's Race. Winner of First Nationals Crew was also Oliver Fellows, racing with dad Jock (and beat mum Andrea by 2 places).

Great racing was followed by some fun times in the club, with Pub Quiz, a spontaneous Helms vs Crews Boat Race and the 'Up in the Air' fancy dress. I have to say the planets were truly marvellous! Lady Helen's SWAGs and SHABs sounded like they had a ball too and of course the Retirement Party went off with a bang.

Massive thanks to Linda and all her helpers for their organising, coercing and occasional nagging to put on an epic event. I'm sure I will forget to mention everyone who I should so will just say hope you all had a great time and come again next year! Looe SC all booked in for July 30th – August 6th 2016 with the compulsory sun, sea and spectacular sailing.

And last but not-a-chance least, congratulations to our 2015 National Champions, Andy McKee and Chris Massey and good luck at the Endeavour on October 9th.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Scorpion nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here