Scorpions at the Weymouth Dinghy Regatta
by Rachael Rhodes 11 Jul 2022 09:05 BST
9-10 July 2022
With the promise of sun, sea and sand, 27 intrepid Scorpions headed for Castle Cove Sailing Club, and the annual Weymouth Dinghy Regatta.
After a brief postponement and a change of Sailing Instructions on Saturday morning, the sea breeze kicked in right on cue. With 4 races planned, the fleet headed out into the harbour...
Race one saw close racing throughout the fleet. Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray (fresh from Salcombe week) took the lead with the battle for second place being fought out just behind them. As Adrian Smith and Rob Smith had a little tacking battle towards with line with Pete Gray and Debi Gibson, Sandra Smith and Jeni Richards pipped them all and took second on the pin end of the line.
Race 2 saw Gillard/Gray and Alan Krailing and Simon Forbes battle it out, with Sam Watson and Andy 'Shandy' Thompson hot on their heels. Gillard/Gray took the win, Krailing/Forbes 2nd, Watson/Shandy 3rd and Nigel Potter and Amy Clay posting a solid 4th.
Race 3 and more close racing ensued, again Gillard/Gray took the win with Krailing/Forbes in second and Gray/Gibson in 3rd. The racing was so close between the top 7 boats, that Watson/Shandy and AJ Eaton and Chris Eaton were tied on the line and split the points for 6th/7th.
The fleet were let off the hook, with race 4 being reverted back to its original Sunday slot. It was time for beer, burgers and for some, a highly competitive game of crazy golf.
Sunday dawned and with light winds forecast and a number of hangovers around the dinghy park, many hoped that Sunday was going to be a beach day. But the race officer was keen, and the fleet launched on time. Following a brief postponement on the water the fleet got 2 races in.
Race 4 was led from start to almost the finish by Gray/Gibson with Gillard/Gray taking the win in the final meters into the finish line. Krailing/Forbes were not far behind in 3rd.
Race 5 and the wind was getting lighter... Gray/Gibson again lead the fleet around the windward mark, but with Krailing/Forbes and Gillard/Gray in hot pursuit. Final result Krailing/Forbes took 1st, Gray/Gibson 2nd and Gillard/Gray 3rd.
As the wind was dropping, the race officer decided an afternoon on the beach was a best bet and race 6 was abandoned.
Final results saw Gillard/Gray take the overall win, Krailing/Forbes in 2nd and Gray/Gibson 3rd. A quick pack up done, time to soak up the sun on Castle Coves balcony and enjoy the prize-giving. Rachael Gray thanked the race team, galley and all club helpers on behalf of the fleet, as well as Tom, her helm, for his world class abilities both on the water and in the bar.
The countdown to the Nationals at Looe is now on...
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 2013 | Tom Gillard | Rachael Gray | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ‑3 | 4 |
| 2 | 2051 | Alan Krailing | Simon Forbes | ‑14 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | 2045 | Peter Gray | Debbie Gibson | 4 | ‑7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 4 | 1986 | Sam Watson | Andy Thompson | 5 | 3 | 6.5 | 4 | ‑7 | 18.5 |
| 5 | 2024 | Sandra Smith | Jeni Richards | 2 | 13 | ‑18 | 6 | 4 | 25 |
| 6 | 1939 | Adrian Smith | Rob Smith | 3 | ‑12 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 26 |
| 7 | 2014 | AJ Eaton | Chris Eaton | 9 | 8 | 6.5 | 5 | ‑18 | 28.5 |
| 8 | 1962 | Thomas Lonsdale | Emily Cole Evans | ‑13 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 32 |
| 9 | 1943 | John Mursell | Matthew Palmer | 11 | ‑14 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 34 |
| 10 | 1958 | Nigel Potter | Amy Clay | 7 | 4 | 4 | ‑22 | 21 | 36 |
| 11 | 2004 | Jock Fellows | Andrea Fellows | 6 | ‑15 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 37 |
| 12 | 2005 | Janet Ritchie | Alan Ritchie | 8 | 6 | 14 | 13 | (DNC) | 41 |
| 13 | 1929 | Graeme Bristow | Nick Lightbody | 10 | 11 | 8 | ‑16 | 13 | 42 |
| 14 | 2023 | Richard Searle | Lucy Searle | 12 | 10 | ‑15 | 10 | 10 | 42 |
| 15 | 2044 | Steve Walker | Jerry Hannabuss | ‑17 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 51 |
| 16 | 1951 | Fiona Taylor | Gordon Taylor | 15 | ‑17.5 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 59 |
| 17 | 2002 | Chloe Willars | John Tailby | 16 | 17.5 | 11 | ‑23 | 20 | 64.5 |
| 18 | 2021 | Andrew Hayman | Richard Gatehouse | 22 | ‑25 | 25 | 9 | 17 | 73 |
| 19 | 2001 | Malcolm James | Monty Hampton | 19 | ‑22 | 21 | 14 | 19 | 73 |
| 20 | 1988 | Russell Wheeler | Alison Shedrick | 21 | 16 | 20 | ‑24 | 16 | 73 |
| 21 | 1981 | Dave Elston | NIGEL Hufton | 23 | 19 | 13 | 20 | ‑24 | 75 |
| 22 | 2017 | Jon willars | Nicola Willars | ‑25 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 75 |
| 23 | 1959 | Lawrence Creaser | Maciej Matyjaszczuk | 20 | 23 | ‑24 | 21 | 15 | 79 |
| 24 | 2048 | Chris Yates | Dave Barker | 18 | 21 | 19 | (DNC) | DNC | 90 |
| 25 | 1991 | David Bennett | Martyn Touy Smith | 24 | 24 | 22 | ‑26 | 25 | 95 |
| 26 | 1920 | Cillian Dyne | Phillip Dyne | ‑27 | 27 | 27 | 19 | 23 | 96 |
| 27 | 2011 | Clive Gimson | Paul McHenry | ‑26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 99 |
