Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County Sailing Club

Youth winners, Sammy Mason and Hatty Connolly - Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County © John Sears

The 2025 end of season Scorpion open at Notts County sailing Club was rescheduled to the weekend of 8th/9th of November due to no wind on the original October date, but despite this 25 boats turned out for the weekend. Many travelled some distance with entries from Sheffield, Bartley, Frensham Pond, Lymington, Pennine, Llandegfredd, Chase, Leeds and Rye, along with Staunton Harold and Notts County.

John Sears the race officer managed to squeeze five races into the weekend in the light variable winds. Saturday saw 3 back to back races with light winds and tricky shifts being the order of the day. Despite this there was great racing, and well laid courses by the race team.

Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County - photo © John Sears

Unsurprisingly it was Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray (Staunton and Sheffield Viking) who dominated the day with 3 wins showing great boat handling and boat speed throughout the day. Behind them there was lots of close racing with constant place changes as the breeze flicked from one side to another.

Race one saw Chris Martin & John Tailby take 2nd with Nigel Potter and Jerry Hannabuss (Notts County) taking 3rd. In race 2 it was Kev Hope and Rob Gardner (Notts County) who took silver from Martin (Bartley) and John Tailby (Notts County) taking Bronze. The last Saturday race saw the breeze dropping slightly as the evening drew towards us, with Hope and Garner once again following Gillard/Gray to take 2nd with Sarah and Richard Mason (Notts County) breaking free of the chasing pack to take 3rd just ahead of their Daughter Sammy crewed by Hatty Connolly in a Scorpion Youth Academy boat.

Close racing - Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County - photo © John Sears

Sunday saw 2 races placed either side of the 2 minutes silence, with slightly more breeze than on the Saturday. The first race saw the dominance of Tom and Rachel challenged by Kev and Rob who took victory to stop a clean sweep for the weekend, with Tom and Rachel in 2nd followed by Potter / Hannabuss in 3rd. In the final race it was these 3 who once again took the podium positions, but this time normal service was resumed with Gillard/Gray taking the honours. 1st Youth Sammy Mason and Hatty Connolly (Notts County)

A great weekend of racing, well organised by the race team and Notts County as a whole. Bring on 2026!

Winners, Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray - Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County - photo © John Sears

Overall Results:

Kevin Hope and Rob Gardner, second overall - Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County - photo © John Sears

Scorpion End of Season open meeting at Notts County - photo © John Sears