Scorpion Open at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

Chew Valley Lake Scorpion Open © Damian Boreham

15 Scorpions descended on Chew Valley Lake SC for the first Silver Scorpion event of 2026. Bright sunshine made rigging up a pleasant experience and looking out across the water it was clear there was wind aplenty. Suncream was applied and the fleet set off dressed mainly for spring - how wrong we were!

On arrival at the start area it became apparent very quickly that the wind had teeth. Race 1 got under way at the first attempt with lots of place changes with the NW breeze being one of the shiftier directions at chew. This race saw a fight between Steve hall and Steve Graham and Chris Martin and John Tailby, which the Steve’s won. Veterans Nigel Potter and Jerry Hannabus were third.

Chew Valley Lake Scorpion Open - photo © Damian Boreham

By the end of the race the wind had increased, the white water was across the lake and the conditions were positively Baltic. Once again we got off at the first time of asking and this time guest helm Darren Roach crewed by Rach Gray joined the battle for the win, with the Steves taking the win once again with Chris and John second.

Race three saw another clean start and the same three way fight for first place, Darren and Rachel taking the win this time, the consistent Chris and John second again and the Steves in third.

Race 4 yet again saw a clean start, Chris and John led at the windward mark but took to the water at the gybe. Darren and Rachel went on to score their second win, the Steves in second and Chris and John working back up to 3rd in a very depleted (Knackered!) fleet.

Chew Valley Lake Scorpion Open - photo © Damian Boreham

Saturday's racing was particularly notable for the number of people seen exiting their upright boats, one well known midlands based boat painter saw fit to do it twice. Not sure what the excuse was, this year there was no weed!

Sunday dawned a different day, different wind direction, same aches and pains! We got away on time after a general recall in slightly less wind which bought other members of the fleet into play in a much more stable south-westerly.

Darren and Rachel won race 5, with the Steves in second and Imogen and Dave wade in third in the three lap race.

Chew Valley Lake Scorpion Open - photo © Damian Boreham

Race 6 got underway in slightly more wind, and again the fleet was closer with good racing front to back. It looked like the two Steves were gling to take this one too, but noone had told them - or Darren and Rachel - that this race was 4 laps not 3 and this allowed the Wades through to to take the bullet, Steve squared second and Lawrence Creaser and Ellie Devereux third.

By the start of race 7 it was as windy as Saturday and the fleet was hurting. Chris and John led at the first mark with Steve squared in hot pursuit. Another sudden dismount saw team Wade eliminated from the very front of the fleet while different approaches to the run saw the lead switch. Another different set of approaches to the last run almost saw it switch back but Steve Squared took the bullet with Chris and John again second with Darren and Rachel third - when was how the overalls worked out too.

Thanks to the team at CVLSC for an excellent weekend's racing in testing conditions.

Overall Results: