TCL Scorpion National Championship 2024 at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Day 2

We have been very fortunate to have been lent a beautiful boat to sail our first Scorpion Nationals. Andy and Tess Groves have very kindly lent us The Heart of Gold a beautiful wooden Scorpion.

The first day of racing scheduled was lost due to fickle breeze so today was our first time racing with the Scorpion fleet, being the youngest crew, there were a few nerves, but as the Scorpion fleet run a system called Pro-Ams where the crews are buddied up across the fleet to give those less experience the opportunity to learn from others.

TCL Scorpion Nationals 2024 at Castle Cove Day 2 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

On a beautiful sunny day we set to setting up the boat with the help of our Pros Steven Graham and John Clemetson whose help and knowledge was really forthcoming, extremely helpful and very gratefully received!

We launched in glamour Weymouth conditions and headed out of a reasonably long sail to the bay, made longer by having to go back to retrieve Freddie's hat when it went overboard.

TCL Scorpion Nationals 2024 at Castle Cove Day 2 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Castle Cove SC cadets were out in force, with an amazing 7 cadets competing in various boats, making it really fun event. Once ready we got set up for the practice gate start, after a little bit of confusion, we got some clarification on exactly how it worked we got into the swing of it.

13-15kts made for some great racing. From where we were, we didn't necessarily see the front finishing boats, but congratulations to Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray for winning race 1 followed by CCSC's Sam Pascoe and Sam Barker in second and third was Ollie Meadowcroft and Simon Forbes. Race 2 saw Tom and Rachael take the send race win, Ollie and Simon took second and third was Matt Burge and Rob Gardner.

TCL Scorpion Nationals 2024 at Castle Cove Day 2 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

The wind dropped for the start of race 3 making the gate start much trickier and more need for concentration which we may have been lacking at this point, the highlight of the race for Freddie was when I exited the boat having missed the toe straps, this was not found to be the fastest way round the course! Congratulations to those that completed the course without mishap, Ollie and Simon were first, followed by the fabulous Catherine Maguire and Andrea Fellows and third were Sam and Sam meaning CCSC had 3 members in the top three boats in this race!

Following a long leisurely sail back we returned to shore to find that I was in good company and not only I, but three CCSC cadets went for a little dip. Naming no names, James and Ben!

TCL Scorpion Nationals 2024 at Castle Cove Day 2 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Following racing we had a debrief from Adam Bowers with video and even got a 'beautiful' for our leeward mark rounding, we'll take that!

The evening finished with Pro-Am drinks which was a great opportunity for the Pro and Amateur teams to discuss the days racing, what worked and didn't and how we would tackle tomorrow. Our first experience of a Scorpion Nationals was great. Good fun and the fleet are super helpful and welcoming.

TCL Scorpion Nationals 2024 at Castle Cove Day 2 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Thank you Scorpions and CCSC, day 2 of the champs but first day of racing complete, looking forward to Tuesday.

Many thanks to the sponsors for the Championships TCL, Craftinsure, Cerne Abbas Brewery, ribs.auction, AJE Asset Management.

Results after Day 2: