Gul Scorpion National Championship at Looe Sailing Club - Overall

'Feel the rhythm, feel the ride, get on up, it's scorpion time!'

The 6th and final day of the Gul Scorpion Nationals was a glamour day with plenty of sun and waves developing in Looe bay.

The dark sunglasses which were being worn by most of the fleet after the famous scorpion fancy dress party were not out of place in the dingy park. As the fleet rigged up for the final day the race committee were setting the race course 2 miles out to sea in an effort to ensure that there was a constant breeze for the scorpion fleet.

The final race got underway in a force 3 with a heavy port end bias. The fleet quickly made their way up the beat with Chris Massey and Andy McKee 2026 rounding the windward in first place. After a reach that was tighter than the four brides dresses from the night before (Wells, Mursell, Yates, Barker) the second reach was as broad as their ample chests, allowing the fleet to sink low and surf the waves to the bottom of the course.

At the leeward mark Andy and Chris were still ahead but they rubbed shoulders with the mark, resulting in a set of turns, gifting the lead to Peter Gray and Rich Pepperdine 2039 which they held on to for the remainder of the race. After doing turns Andy and Chris held on to second place which wasn't enough to secure the overall win as Chris Turner & Alex Hayman 2004 (Discreet Banana) took 3rd place. With that the 2016 Gul scorpion nationals was sealed by one point over Tom Jeffcoate & Tim Hartley 2037 (Pickled Wombat) and Andy & Chris 2026 (Sneaky Ninja) who were tied on points with Tom & Tim taking second on count back.

Further down the fleet all of the other battles were being fought hard. Stevie G & Charlotte Farmer 1850 (Cream Cracker) managed to hold back the challenge from Sandra Smith & Kate Gurner 1852 (Popsy) to take the classic boat 'transom trophy' home!

As the scorpion fleet knows, it's not over until the Drama Queen sings, and in true style, Janet Richie 2005 managed to produce a storming top 10 result to clinch the lady helm crown from Rachael Rhodes 1976 who had held it all week.

In sibling rivalry news...

Chloe & Nichola Willars 2002 managed to hold off the boys Jonathan & Jake Willars 2017 to finish a place above them. After continuously crossing each other up the last beat, Richard & Lucy Searle 2023 pipped Rachael Rhodes & Hannah Edge 1976 by a second ... Pay back on the first race for Chloe & Lucy and family banter until next year.

After a truly amazing week in Looe at the Gul 56th Scorpion National Championships the National Scorpion Class Association would like to thank Looe Sailing Club for a brilliantly organised and ran event. We would also like to thank Gul for sponsoring the event along with North Sails & Sea View Holiday Village for prizes and offers to our competitiors

Finally before we sign off thank you to the 51 boats that competed, as well as the SWAGs & SHABs and all that supported them

Congratulations to our new 2016 Scorpion Nationals Champions Chris Turner & Alex Hayman

See you all next year at Castle Cove Sailing Club.

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