Typhoon Scorpion Nationals 2021 in association with Craftinsure and FFX - Overall

What a week - readers forgive me if I run out of superlatives for describing what just happened in west Cornwall last week. A fine fleet (a sting) of Scorpions descended on Penzance over the weekend of 13-14th August for a week of racing to decide the National Champion once more after the enforced Covid break.

Greeted by a relaxed boat park layout allowed sailors to find a corner to offload and set themselves up, Sailor Jerry (class rules guru) was patrolling with his big measuring tape and lead checking device to ensure no one had forgotten to re-attach their correctors after two winters of possible bimbling.

But I get ahead of myself - already on the Saturday morning an elite group had conquered the most westerly park run on the mainland UK and got some sneaky photos on Land's End in before the wardens made people pay for the privilege.

Saturday was spent bimbling, setting up and catching up with a superb opening Commodore's Reception (did you know Penzance only charge £3 a beer) this is looking good for the week ahead! (Most of the rules and racing discussions had been covered on Zoom in the lead up to the event, so more socialising time available on day 1 - excellent.)

Registration was a fantastic chance to pick up the pre-ordered goodies (thanks Triggernaut sunglasses), free pirate burgees, tote bags c/o Maguire Boats, water bottles, sponges and stickers thanks to Craftinsure, as well as our fantastic cheap gilets courtesy of FFX.

Typhoon Scorpion Nationals in association with Craftinsure & FFX at Penzance - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

So to day 1 - it's time for the non wetsuit folk (SHWAGS) lunch and the time for them to plan their week - oh and a practice start, practice race and two races in a force 5 for the sailors - wow - the photos from Lee Whitehead say it all - epic. Gilly & Rach (Tom Gillard and Rachael Rhodes) in control with two race wins, then pasties and beer on tally return.

Day 1 Evening - the famous Sheppey races and Lee Marriott in control as the piggy race controller himself - great fun had by all with 'George the Vegan' now booked into Gamblers Anonymous as a result.

Day 2 - another force 5 with two races for Gilly & Rach (saffron buns and beer on tally return). SHWAGS off to Mousehole with ice creams, pasties and other important carb loading on the way, with bus back to ensure energy for the new format quiz night hosted by Mr and Mrs Gray. The campsite had its own early event with a wedding anniversary celebration hosted by the Drama Queens - 15 bottles and three large iced fruit cakes demolished.

Day 3 The wind is now easing - force 4 half... tired bodies straining but again Gilly n Rach setting the pace (back to pasties and beer on tally return). SHWAGS off to the Jubilee lido to experience the sort of cold water the sailors seem to enjoy. Warmed up after cold water immersion by cream tea and Pimms (I think I've made a mistake by being in the sailing team?)

AGM and Fish and Chips for dinner for 150. Some fabulous singing from shanty group Barrett's Privateers - the local night work construction team halted work to listen.

Day 4 - only a force 3 to contend with so rigs upright and finally a chink in the scorecard for Gilly n Rach: a bullet and a second. No matter the championship has been well won a day early - but the crew's race is the real event today and Richard (Pepsi) Pepperdine was supported by Peter to ensure they both got a race win today. Cornish Cakes and beer on tally return.

SHWAGS showing signs of fatigue with only a small group visiting St Ives by train (why leave Penzance at all I ask myself?) Family games night run by team Haines & Pegg and compered by Ritchie resulted in only one hospitalisation this year - luckily the leg was saved by steristrips.

The joys of returning your tally during the Typhoon Scorpion Nationals in association with Craftinsure & FFX at Penzance - photo © Tom Daniel

Day 5 - The competition is on for second place; sadly for some the Bear hunt failed and Alan/Bear kept second place for an impressive comeback after winning in 2018. Pasties and beer to finish the tally return.

SHWAGS are now busy prepping fancy dress for the pirate party - children first before the free rum starts to flow later in the evening - dancing like mad till folk-punk band Black Friday have to stop at 11.

With a week of gate starts to ensure rapid and fair racing, all ten races were completed as well as the crews race and a practice race - Gilly and Rach streets ahead and always able to squeeze to the front no matter if they started late or early. However the real winner in this story is the Scorpion community - we had newbies coming from other classes, oldies returning from a break, youngsters borrowing the class boat and the stalwarts - all battling round with smiles on their faces.

Rigs were cut away after unfortunate events - replaced in time for the next days racing with a huge team effort, many were tweaking all week with both sailmakers and boat builders all doing their best to ensure that people were able to sail as much and as well as they could.

The off-water activity was set up to ensure that non-sailors were included and busy if they chose to be, evenings were full of fun in an airy marquee again with activity if wanted or a warmer clubhouse for those who prefer to remain seated while socialising.

To finish off a fantastic week a prize-giving on Friday morning was well run and supported (who wouldn't turn up when there's free coffee and bacon sandwiches on offer), prizes were spread throughout the fleet with sponsors being very generous with jackets from Craftinsure, sunglasses from Beat Racing, goodies from Allen Brothers, youth prizes from Big Blue Sky Campers, a raffle for a brand new kite from Moatt Sails etc etc (I actually think we should all be able to keep our bibs from Typhoon to show off all year - I was there!).

The winners overall were Tom Gillard and Rachel Rhodes/Gray with the winners of the silver fleet being Michael and Georgina Hicks in Blue Moon. Bronze feet winners were Alister Sim and Duncan Sim in Popping Polly.

The Scorpion fleet has a fair spread of prizes so I will just mention a few. At the younger end of the fleet, Fraser Hemmings who won first under 21 crew in his first nationals. Jake Willars winning the junior helm prize and, with Bradley Seaton, first youth combo (a combined age of under 40) and Monty Hampton, Harry George and Samantha Mason all who are 13 years old.

And at the 'young at heart' end: Pete Rose winning the veteran helm, Jerry Hannabus winning the veteran crew, Nigel Potter winning the super veteran helm and Steve Smith winning the super veteran crew. And the ancient mariners prize going to Steve Walker and Jerry Hannabus and very ancient mariner going to Stuart Robinson and Alison Sheldrick.

The hotly contested tenacity prize, for the lowest placed boat finishing all the races went to Helen Allen and Andy Wadsworth in 2000 "Does my bum look big in this". And Janet Ritchie with her wonderful crew battled stiff competition in Drama Queen to retain the ladies helm prize for another year.

Final mention goes to the pro am team which was awarded by the fleet to sailors who had gone above and beyond to support other people during the week. The prizes went to Nigel Potter & Steve G and Malcolm Janes & John Tailby (special thanks for the pins from me).

Thanks Penzance - you were awesome - we'll be back.

Just one pressure question for those superstars responsible for this great week - how do we get Looe to be even better next year...?

The Scorpion association would like to thank Penzance Sailing Club for hosting a fantastic Championships, and also all our sponsors for their generosity: Typhoon International, Craftinsure, FFX, Moatt sails, Maguire Boats, Allen Brothers, Paintcraft Boats, Big Blue Sky Campers, Triggernaut Sportsglasses and Beat Racing.

Lee Whitehead has several video interviews on YouTube, as well as footage of the race starts.

Full results below

Typhoon Scorpion Nationals in association with Craftinsure & FFX at Penzance - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Prizewinners:

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