Report of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations
at Porthpean SC Jan 23/24th 2010

On 24th January 1960, the prototype of a new class of racing dinghy, the Scorpion, was launched at Porthpean Sailing Club. The sailors at the Club were so impressed that they were one of the earliest clubs to adopt the class and several of the earliest numbered boats were sailed here. 50 years later Scorpions still sail at Porthpean and on Saturday 23rd January Club launched its Anniversary celebrations.

On Saturday night over 50 current and ex-Scorpion sailors congregated to enjoy good food and share lots of memories. Carol Haines (President of the Scorpion Class Association) and her husband, Jon, travelled down to join in and reminisce with the rest.

Film footage of the launch and early Scorpion sailing was shown, photos displayed and lots of tall tales exchanged. One of the attendees was Chris Davies who described his time at Porthpean SC and the arrival of the Scorpion as having a huge influence on his future. He went on to crew in the Flying Dutchman and won a gold Medal at the Olympics in 1972 with Rodney Pattisson and reckons that 'the foundation for all that was laid at Porthpean all those years ago'.

The sailors of the earliest numbered Scorpion present were Guy & John Morgan who sailed number 48 but Michael Whetter (sail number 49) was also there. Some of the attendees have sailed 6 or more different Scorpions over the years and several had owned 4 or more.

On Sunday, in glorious weather which displayed the Cornish beach and sailing water at its best, four of Porthpean's current Scorpions took to the water in what was to be an Anniversary sail but turned into, in typical Porthpean style, an Anniversary race.

With sunshine, flat seas and 9-12 knots of wind from the NNE, the race started from the beach with a Le Mans start, out to a mark in the bay and then a long reach across St Austell Bay to the SW Water mark with a reach back to the finishing mark.

Paul Beacon, in a borrowed boat (1916) crewed by Bob Grose who was back in a Scorpion after 40 years, were quickly off the beach. Kay Ecclestone & Craig Varley (sailing 1996) were first to hoist their spinnaker but were only place third at the buoy which was rounded speedily by Ron & Michelle Barrett (1961) closely followed by Andrew and Jenny Kendall (1889).

The fleet retained their spinnakers for longer than was probably effective (just because it was fun to do so) and then dropped them for a 2 sail reach to the SW Water mark. The Barretts and Kendalls tussled for position allowing Kay & Craig to close on them but it was Andrew & Jenny Kendall first around the SW mark, then the Barretts.

Unfortunately the Kendalls headed back to the beach rather than the finishing mark allowing the Barretts through. 1916 had a slight problem at the SW water mark when the rudder decided to detach from the boat; luckily it was salvaged before going over-board but despite their best efforts with the spinnaker, they couldn’t close the gap. Meanwhile 1996 (Kay & Craig) steadily reduced the gap and eventually passed the Barretts on the 2 sail reach, sailing on to win. The Kendalls, having rectified their directional mistake, passed the Barretts and sailed into 2nd place.

Both on and off the water, this was such a good event that there are forces afoot to make it an annual celebration - no-one being willing to wait another 50 years!

Gary Lewis, Commodore PSC