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Scorpion End of Season Championships at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

by Simon Forbes 6 Nov 2023 21:20 GMT
Scorpion End of Season Championships at Staunton Harold © Richard Bowers

Despite a continually changing forecast, 27 Scorpions skirted the Midlands wide flood water, descending upon Staunton Harold Sailing Club for the 2023 End of Season Championships. The fleet were met with hot beverages and pastries whilst they waited for the breeze to settle in.

The Staunton tradition of sprint races was continued, with two 2-hour sessions on Saturday resulting in seven races completed in light and testing conditions. With the sprint format there is one discard for every five races completed, this meant that those who had picked up a dodgy result or black flag on Saturday afternoon had a nervous wait overnight.

Saturday evening saw Rach Gray/Tom Gillard, Rich Pepperdine/Pete Gray and Ellie Devereux/Lawrence Creaser sitting pretty in the top three spots.

Meanwhile, the fleet were treated to a full three course meal at the club, followed by cheese and biscuits in the bar. Unfortunately, England weren't quite able to top the evening off with a win in the Rugby World Cup.

Scorpion End of Season Championships at Staunton Harold - photo © Richard Bowers
Scorpion End of Season Championships at Staunton Harold - photo © Richard Bowers

Sunday dawned, with a 'Pepperdine Special' cooked breakfast for the fleet, funded by the Scorpion Class Association. After a brief postponement, the fleet made their way out to the start line for a 3-hour race session.

A further seven sprint races were completed in moderate breeze, adding a second discard into the mix (finishing with 14 races in total... disappointing for those who had picked up their third black flag of the weekend, Fraser Hemmings and Jack Lewis!).

Prize giving for the end of season champs and the silver scorpion series took place in the bar with thanks to our sponsors CraftInsure and Dewalt for the prizes.

Silver Scorpion overall series results:

1st helm - Tom Gillard
2nd helm - Pete Gray
3rd helm - Chris Martin
1st crew - Rach Gray
2nd crew - Rich Pepperdine
3rd crew - Simon Forbes
Bronze scorpion (first youth) - John Tailby

End of Season event results:

PosBoatNameSail NoHelmCrewR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14Pts
1stThe Essence of Wetness2057Tom GillardRach Gray1‑2112112‑71111114
2ndJust the Tip2058Peter GrayRichard Pepperdine31221341‑116‑939439
3rdMrs Bears Boat2051Alan KrailingSimon Forbes123581125(BFD)1(BFD)322256
4thSneaky Ninja2026Lawrence CreaserEllie Devereux5‑8343676448‑114357
5thL'espirit de Turnip1929Jack LewisFraser Hemmings26(BFD)3(BFD)9242BFD243569
6thGrey Mullet2061Dave WadeBen Rayner4481012(BFD)125334713(BFD)85
7thUp Yours 22031Crowther PeterDave Thompson8775443(BFD)991215‑18790
8thBarbarians for breakfast1958Matt PotterKev hope61197‑15111338(BFD)101256101
9thShock Wave1880Graeme BristowChris Muxworthy794‑17512‑16851611141516122
10thWater Please1969Chris MartinJohn Tailby9‑15109‑191015121051410612122
11thTallulah2044Nigel PotterJerry Hannabuss‑2316121381399‑201569710127
12thZephyr2001Malcolm JamesMonty Hampton10515151471110157(BFD)13‑1713135
13thSidewinder1951Fiona TaylorGordon Taylor(BFD)186221318(DNC)1314255119136
14th 2054Tom LonsdaleEmily Cole Evans131418‑2198141168131616‑19146
15thThe Bee's Knees1937Myles JacksonBill Jackson17‑201116715817131215‑181215158
16thPigs on the wing1912Will WinterLJ Winter20‑2319111019‑221512117191017170
17thShandy1052Jake WillarsAlison Sheldrick(BFD)2123621146161910(BFD)88BFD177
18thDolly1983Cillian DyneBen Wallis1413171918‑212020181319‑21208199
19thGuinevere2049Dave SnutchGeorgia Riddell181222‑2417202314171816‑251918214
20thTouching the Void2015Joanne MahyRichard Bowers‑2422212316‑24192224201762314227
21stQuackers!2022Stephen GrahamCharlotte Graham1110(BFD)186510(DNF)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC228
22ndPerdita2009Neil PetersJess Plail21‑2725(BFD)2623177161423202220234
23rdJAMMY DODGER1902Phillip DyneJo Riddell22‑25141222‑252521211718172422235
24thLiquid Spirit2048Chris YatesDave Barker161920‑2620(BFD)2424232224231411240
25thUp Yours (maybe?)2017Jon WillarsNicola Willars15‑262414241618192621202225(DNC)244
26th 2023Kevin NichollsSteve Gill‑251713202522‑2623222322242121253
27thIn the Bas1962Alex WoodsTarnia Woods1924162523172118251921(DNC)(DNC)DNC256

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