Notts. County Sailing Club Scorpion Open Meeting 6th & 7th October 2007

Although forty competitors arrived for the usual weekend of racing and entertainment, on this occasion the wind declined to make a proper appearance. Boats and crews arrived from the South Coast, Wales, Home Counties and points North; set up camp and waited. On Saturday two races were started and finished - just.

The first race began with a General Recall, a big wind shift and a postponement to move the start line. The second start got all the boats away. Andy Smith in Sc2001 made the windward mark in first place. But with a spinnaker reach on the next leg, Richard Mason overhauled Andy and the first gybe was complete with Kevin Hope & Kerrie Foster, sailing Sc2003, in third place. The race was mercifully shortened after 2 laps with the fought-for placings at the front remaining the same. The rest of the fleet was led over the line by Dave Woodhead & Jerry Hannabus in Sc1947. After finishing 36 boats, the wind dropped to nothing, becalming the final four boats, leaving them to drift to a finish.

After a short break and a momentous Rugby result the Fleet was sent out again to gather what wind there was for a second race. Another General Recall prompted the deployment of the Black Flag in view of the disappearing wind. The second start got everyone away and again Andy Smith cleared the windward mark in first place. This time he pulled away in whatever wind there was to a clear victory. The course was shortened and the race finished at the top of the second beat. This time Kevin Hope took second place and Peter Rose with his so-light son Thomas in Sc1995, using all his lake sailing experience from Chew Valley, took third.

Entertainment provided during the race by Sc1835 was enjoyed by everyone in the Fleet as they processed around the second gybe mark - such a graceful capsize and in zero wind too! And so to dinner, a resounding production from the galley with the majority of the Fleet enjoying three meat & umpteen veg with gravy followed by trifle or apple pie. (It may even have been and apple pie for some…)

Sunday dawned under cloud and despite the brightening weather the wind stayed away. All racing was abandoned at 11.00 am, with the lake like a mirror for the remainder of the day.

The first three prizes went to NCSC sailors: Andy Smith & David Scott first, Kevin Hope & Kerrie Foster second, Richard & Sarah Mason third. The first lady helm was Janet Gatehouse with betrothed, Alan Ritchie, crewing in Sc2005. The First Ladies' combination was Catherine Putt with Poppy Husband in Sc2001. First Junior Combination was won by John & Andrew Rose, sailing Sc1923. Paintcraft, the local Scorpion supplier par excellence, presented a new trophy to the club to be awarded annually to the most promising Junior sailing in the open meeting. The first winner of the prize was Jamie Clementson crewing Sc1984 for his father John. Besides the glass & silver-wear, there were lots of prizes of gear & vouchers presented by sponsors: Evolution Sails, Speed Sails, Pinnel & Bax, Morton Boats and Noble Marine Insurance. After the various category winners had taken their share there was still a small pile of them which were drawn by lot for all those who had not won anything courtesy of the wind and their skills.

Graham Sheard NCSC 08 Oct 07