Pwhelli Sailing Club hosted the 2001 Scorpion National Championship held between 29 July and 3 August. A total of 61 boats turned out for some close racing and excellent socials. The club facilities were shared with the GP14s and proved to be a very successful event for both classes. The race officer Richard Tate enjoyed his week both on and off the water, although light winds on two days restricted the full schedule of races.
The Sunday morning saw the first of the waiting for the wind to fill in, but the practise race for the Trevor Stewart Cup, set the scene for the close races which were to follow. John Mursell and Nick Keast in 1936, Bottyburp the Barbarian taking line honours. The Sunday afternoon held the first championship race for the Marlow Ropes trophy. In the light winds Mursell completed the day with two race wins, with close competition from newly crowned Fireball world champion Stevie Morrison and Dave Dobrejevic in 1971, Woody, who finished second with past champions Dave Woodhead and Jerry Hannabuss 1947 Angel Dust in third place.
The Sunday evening saw the first award of “Petes Pecker” to the day’s under acheiver and was awarded during the week for such things as, falling for a practical joke at the weighing of the boats, repeatedly hitting the windward marks, having the shipping forcast taped so you could listen to it over the phone, waiting for a gate start during the line start day, having a photograph taken with Des O’conner and wearing the bad taste beach wear to an 18th birthday party.
Monday had the race for the Dunhill trophy. The right hand side of the beat paid which encouraged many people to start late. Dave and Mike Hannan 1930 Another Braincell lead around the first mark to be taken by the chasing pack of Mursell, Woodhead, Morrison and Pete Harper and Tim Parsons 1935, Bete Noir. After a full course the final three places were, Mursell, Harper, Morrison.
Tuesday held the first of the two short races around the inverted P course, both results are accumulated for the City of Plymouth Cup. With windier conditions the tighter course made for plenty of position changes and gave a number of the crews swims at the gybe marks. The finish at the end of the run ensured the race officer could get the second race started quickly, but provided some difficult covering positions for the competitors. The aggregated positions gave Woodhead first, Mursell second and Andrew Walters and Barry Rawlins 1964 Quantum Leap, third.
Wednesday and Thursday both dawned with very little wind and the racing for each day was abandoned. This provided time for an extended Pimms party and a family evening out on the Festiniog railway on the Wednesday and a bad taste beach party on the Thursday.
An earlier start to Friday allowed two races to be sailed in an offshore Force 3, which provided some shifty and testing conditions. With the championship still wide open, the conditions gave some nervous ends to the races, as it was difficult to be consistant.
The first race for the Chapman Quart went to Morrison first, Harper second and Mursell third. This meant that the final race for the Designers Cup would decide the eventually winner. First around the first mark was Kevin Gosling and Lee Hallam 1943 Blue Moon, followed by, David Elston and Simon Clarkson 1981 Highway Star and Steve Walker and Chris Muxworthy 1970, Custard Tart, with Morrison and Mursell some way behind. By the end, Gosling went on to win with Morrison second and Tom Jeffcoate and James Appleby 1942, Bavasiri VI, third. With Mursell in fifth place it was good enough to give him the championship and his seventh victory.
Overall Results
1 1936 ‘Bottyburp the Barbarian’, John Mursell and Nick Keast (Castle Cove SC) 6.5 pts
2. 1971 ‘Jezerbelle’, Stevie Morrison and Dave Dobrejevic (Exe SC) 7.75 pts
3. 1947 ‘Angel Dust’, Dave Woodhead and Jerry Hannabuss (Elton SC) 12.75 pts
4. 1974, Nigel Potter and Martin Worth (N