RYA Female Scorpion Project 2025 finale at National Championship in Penzance
by Millie Irish 9 Aug 05:41 AEST
2-8 August 2025
Arwen Fflur and Hatty Connolly - RYA Female Scorpion Project sailors attend the Nationals at Penzance © RYA Female Scorpion Project
The project finale was the 2025 National Scorpion Class Championships held in Penzance sponsored by Magic Marine. This was a full week's racing commencing with the entire 53 boat fleet being weighed and scrutineered.
Despite early forecasts predicting light to moderate breezes, which would have suited our super lightweight crews, Mounts Bay delivered 5 days of fresh breezes and only one light weather day.
Arwen Fflur & Hatty Connolly were sailing 35 year old L'espirit de Turnip (1929). Tim Evans & Millie Irish were sailing The Scorpion Foundation's 37 year old Syruptitious (1905 but sailing under 1903) reversing their normal roles in their 470. Lucy Street crewed for Class Secretary Steve Walker in 40 year old Shockwave (1880).
The project sailors had an excellent week socialising with a dozen other young competitors most of whom they know from their earlier sailing careers in 420 or from University Team Racing. This big group of young sailors became the heart and soul of the final night Fancy Dress Party celebrating the 1980s, giving the Nationals a new more vigorous and energetic vibe.
The sailors learned a lot about handling fast boats in challenging conditions and Tim & Millie's fifth in Race 5 was an early highlight.
With the dawn of light weather day 4 the project sailors anticipated a big opportunity to hit the front of fleet.
The day started in style with Tim & Millie sailing an excellent Race 6 building on their previous fifth place to finish fourth.
Arwen & Hatty in Turnip revelled in the lighter conditions and after a ninth in Race 6 led Race 7 until the second reach when Multi Champions Tom Gillard & Rach Gray passed them. They then defended well and started attacking Gillard on the final run and beat to earn a well deserved - and very popular - second.
The final results for the project sailors were as follows with their ages overall position and best result:
Arwen Fflur (18) & Hatty Connolly (18) - 22nd overall - best finish 2nd
Tim Evans (19) & Millie Irish (21) - 13th overall - best finish 4th
Steve Walker (65) & Lucy Street (20) - 24th overall - best finish 17th
The project demonstrated both that young light female sailors could compete effectively in an open fleet and that old wooden boats were competitive with modern FRP boats.
It was interesting to note that Chris Draper & Alex Hayman who were second overall sailed a wooden Gosling Scorpion that was more than 10 years old.
Meanwhile project coaches Joe Warwicker (20) & Andy Service (65) sailing Ambush (2040) finished seventh overall with two seconds in the second and third races.