Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px TOP

Returning Tallulah gets her bottom wet to win the 2020 Concours d'Elegance

by Mark Jardine 29 Feb 2020 10:05 PST 29 February 2020
The Scorpion Tallulah wins the Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy Show 2020 © Paul Wyeth / RYA

The 2020 Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy Show has been awarded to the Scorpion Tallulah, owned by Jerry Hannibus. Present at the 2019 show, the boat was ineligible then due to not having sailed, but this year had competed regularly on the Scorpion circuit and at Jerry's home club of Pennine SC.

Every year the quality of boats on display at the show is higher. Sarah Treseder, Chief Executive of the RYA, and Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of YachtsandYachting.com and Sail-World.com, found judging harder than ever.

Tallulah has a stunning Paintcraft varnish finish, intricate rope systems and brilliant boat and sail graphics.

Jerry was understandably delighted to win the prestigious trophy: "It means a lot. The Scorpion is a pretty boat, and to win something with a wooden boat is great. We're trying to show that wooden boats are really good, so it means a great deal to us. To me and Steve, and to PaintCraft who put this together, it is a proud moment for us."

When asked about what is needed to keep Tallulah in pristine condition, Jerry said: "Well, we don't have to do anything special. She lives in a berth at the club; we make sure she has a boom-up cover so that keeps most of the damp off. She lives in the Pennines most of the summertime. In winter she's been under a lean-to. I think it shows how modern technology and modern varnishes can keep a wooden boat looking as good as this one does."

Runners-up where the second ever GP14 to be built and the Firefly Pogie.

Steve Parry who worked on the restoration of the GP14, which was built in 1950 and sported a 1951 cottom mainsail said: "We think it is the probably the oldest marine plywood dinghy in the world. The original owner donated it to the class association, and it was owned by his father, who had dry-stored it in a barn since the 1960s. Most cotton sails were left to get wet and have rotted, but this mainsail survived."

Jono Pank said of Pogie: "Originally built by Fairey Marine in 1957 and refurbished in the 80s, Pogie won championships in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, before getting rebuilt to the Mk 4 rules, and winning the championships in 2013. The rules now allow an extra layer of plywood in the floor, which can stiffen older boats and protect them long-term."

A special mention must be made of the Challenger class. Year-on-year they put on a vibrant and fun display. Richard Johnson, Chairman of the Challenger Class Association said: "This is our 40th anniversary - the first boat was delivered to Oxford SC in July 1980. We couldn't get the Ruby Regatta in July this year, so it will be in August. We want to see 40 boats there - you'll probably be able to walk from one side of the lake to the other on these trimarans! The class was originally designed for people with disabilities, but we have a growing number of more mature (able) sailors who are fed up with capsizing and hiking out."

There were some stunning new boats also on display including Merlin Rockets, International Canoes, Miracles and International 14s. The quality and workmanship that has gone into these dinghies is something to behold and is worth a close inspection by all RYA Dinghy Show visitors.

Mark Jardine said after the judging: "Walking around the show with Sarah to take in the plethora of dinghies on display is the highlight of my weekend. We both loved Tallulah last year, but the fact she didn't even have pintles fitted was a giveaway that she had never sailed, and we were delighted to see her return this year having sailed regularly, including at the Scorpion Nationals. A worthy winner indeed!"

Related Articles

Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
Exposure Marine Fastnet Race Kit Video Review
A set of 3 torches specifically designed for offshore racing crews It's a huge year for offshore sailing, and arguably the biggest event of the summer is the Rolex Fastnet Race. Within an hour of entries opening the Royal Ocean Racing Club had received a record 435 yacht registrations. Posted on 14 May
Touching base with Francesca Clapcich
Francesca Clapcich on her 2028-2029 Vendee Globe campaign In late March, Italian-American sailor Francesca “Frankie” Clapcich announced that her Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will campaign for the 2028-2029 edition of the Vendee Globe race. Posted on 13 May
How Seldén Carbon Masts are made
I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood to find out more I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood from Seldén to find out a bit more about how the carbon tow reels become the masts that we use when out sailing. Posted on 12 May
SAY it with intent! SAY it in carbon…
You know, you might also have to SAY it in epoxy. You know, you might also have to SAY it in epoxy. Get all that, and you are certainly someone who needs to know about SAY Carbon Yachts. It's all about efficiency, acceleration, pace, and the amount of horsepower required to get there. Posted on 8 May
Night sailing, Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup
Night sailing, encountering light airs in the Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup We bundled up as the last of the rays sunlight dipped below the Olympic Mountains and night quietly fell on Puget Sound. We'd been racing for about twelve hours in the Seattle Yacht Club's Protection Island Race (April 26), and we were getting tired. Posted on 6 May
For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes. Posted on 4 May
Touching base with Erden Eruç
Erden Eruç on his 2026 Golden Globe Race campaign Adventures come in all sizes, scales, speeds, and price tags. My longtime friend and sometimes shipmate Erden Eruç was the first person to complete a human-powered solo circumnavigation. He's now turning his attention to the 2026 Golden Globe Race. Posted on 1 May
The Allure of Timber
The longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood. Posted on 29 Apr
A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past. Posted on 28 Apr
Vaikobi 2024 DecemberRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design