TCL Scorpion National Championship 2024 at Castle Cove Sailing Club – Summary
by Alan Ritchie August 9, 10:25 UTC
July 28 – August 2, 2024
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Self-realization after the event
So that’s it, apart from the post-Nationals analysis of where we could (and should) have done better – I’m scrolling through the photos and videos from PhotoLounge and wondering why he never seems to manage to catch me sailing out and filling the spinnaker at the same time (I’m sure it happened for at least a nanosecond – where were you Lee? – I guess I was too busy getting some great shots and putting together videos in the water at the gybe mark).
Congratulations to the winners of all fleets. Rach and Gilly are back on top. In search of alternative angles to explain why the Scorpion continues its upward trend, I would encourage all sailors to take a look at Abraham Maslow’s 1943 work on the theory of human motivation:
1) Physiological needs: air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction
Well, given that the galley never seemed to close and the bar was always empty, I think Castle Cove did an incredibly good job. And a huge thank you to the fantastic volunteers (I won’t name them – there are too many to fit into the 2000 word limit!). A selection of ice cold canned drinks and baked goods when we hand in the results at the end of each day’s sailing also adds to the post-race conversations.
We had organised some great t-shirts and sweatshirts and had them delivered in time for us to drive home clean – ideal. The protection of a tent to extend the size of the club in bad weather actually provided quite a useful spot of shade in the tropical paradise of Weymouth last week.
Unfortunately, some of us were sleep deprived as we never had a spare minute – and when we weren’t floating around, Adam Bowers was there to remind us all how to float around faster.
I won’t mention reproduction this week, but there are quite a few infants as well as toddlers and children growing rapidly and preparing for the Scorpio events in the coming years.
2) Security needs: personal safety, employment, resources, health, property
Due to the lighter winds this week, not too many rescues were required, but when a less agile helmsman was called, he was ferried ashore at high speed on a dinghy to ensure his bleeding head did not stain his new boat (nothing could be done to him, so he did not need to be hospitalized).
A keen amateur splicer was busy sprucing up almost the entire fleet and deservedly won the Tom Castle Memorial Trophy for outstanding boatwork – well done John Tailby. If ‘the Bear’ Forbes had used John he might not have spliced his spinnaker sheets in his shrouds and won the final pecker prize of the week. The funds invested in the event ensured we all had fresh water bottles (thanks Craft Insure and TCL). Property, including entire boats, was loaned to the fleet and hopefully returned…
3) Love and belonging: friendship, intimacy, family, feeling of connection
OMG – that’s the Scorpion fleet in a nutshell – a bunch of mates who party all week and also go sailing – and I mean proper sailing – when a multiple rockstar legend (sorry Pascoe) can’t escape the 20s in a three sail reach then you know it’s the real race!!
Friendships are renewed and new ones made every year – to quote one of the best moments of being a newbie: “Zoe’s dressing room buddies.”
Again, I don’t want to get into intimacy with you, dear reader, but I have seen our chairman kiss and hug many people – often before the alcohol flowed… This is the Scorpion family – we are connected
4) Appreciation: respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, freedom
We all know and respect our fellow sailors, don’t we? Well, everyone in the fleet knows that one mistake costs 5/10/20 boats – everyone is in – the boat speeds are so close that if you don’t get a decent start you’re unlikely to get very far up in such a competitive fleet. At the daily prize giving, some nice cups are handed out around the fleet each day and we all get recognised.
We have the strength to go out and do it again the next day. That is freedom. It was incredible to hear Pete Goss, the circumnavigator, tell us about his adventures and to hear what drove us and to see that in ourselves.
Confidence of a 14-year-old – we heard: “At 14, Austin had never sailed a Scorpion or even competed in a dinghy race before Sunday… he still achieved some respectable results and is now a converted Scorpion sailor.” And he’s already booked for 2025 in Penzance.
5) Self-actualization: The desire to get the best out of yourself
There is only one way to be the best in the Scorpion fleet – and that is to keep coming back and building that hierarchy pyramid. Join the Scorpions and you too can be self-actualised. At Weymouth this year, with 76 boats on the water, we had four junior coxswains, three youth coxswains, seven junior crews, three youth crews, nine female coxswains and 22 female crews – the three female coxswain scouts obviously did a great job – none of their starts had to run a second attempt! Clearly these people have all achieved self-actualisation…
But seriously, every year we manage to improve and make the event better. I don’t envy our amazing organizers their constant improvement. I know other fleets look to the Scorpions as a model and see how they can make their fleet as great as we do for a totally inclusive week. We toasted Chief Swag Lady H while expecting others to continue the tradition of including non-sailors, old and young, partners and friends. The community is more than just the people on the water and Maslow’s theory applies across the Scorpion family.
For more interesting things I didn’t mention, take a moment to watch PhotoLounge’s great summary video, which includes some things Maslow didn’t fully cover: gate starts, costumes, game nights, etc. etc.
Thank you to all our sponsors who make this event what it is: TCL, Craft Insure, Ribs.auction, AJE Management Assets and Cerne Abbas Brewery. And a huge thank you to Castle Cove and all the club volunteers, including Race Director Simon Hawkes who stepped in at the last minute and did a brilliant job.
See you in Penzance – 39 pre-registrations have already been received!
