National Squib Championships 2013 at Abersoch Preview

by David Shiel 24 Apr 2013 21:00 BST 30 June - 6 July 2013

The week-long 2013 National Digital Communications & Haulfryn Group Squib National Championships is to be held from the 30th June 2013 to the 6th July 2013 in Abersoch at the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club on the Llŷn Peninsula in North West Wales. Abersoch is a very popular location for this Championship, which could potentially be one of the biggest One-Design keelboat Championships in the UK this year.

To date, 36 entries have been received and more are expected. This is in line with the numbers at this time of the year at the Championships over the last two years.

Entries from SCYC already include 15 boats. Last year's National Championship winners, Alan Johnson & Dave Garlick from SCYC, are already entered. Last year's Inland Championship winners, Bryan & Jenny Riley from Waveney & Oulton YC are already entered. Other entries have been received from the Royal Victoria YC, Royal St George YC, Humber YC, Holyhead SC and Rutland. A full list of entries can be found at www.squibnationals2013.co.uk/entries/

The National Squib fleets are strong on the East coast and there should be entries from Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham, Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club and Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club.

Entries from the North are light on the ground, but it is Alchemy from Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club who holds the ability to win the Championship. They won the Inland Championships in Rutland in 2011, so they have the ability and boat speed to win.

With only two entries from Ireland, Femme Fatale & Firebird are on their own in realising the potential of taking the premier trophy back to Ireland.

The format of the championship is the same as last year with two races on some days and one race on others. This innovation is the continued result of a nationwide poll which was held by the Class. The good news for all the days sailing out of SCYC is that you are only 10-20 minutes from the race course regardless of the wind direction.

Abersoch is a beautiful and popular holiday centre for the families who race in Squibs.

Entry fees are split between "Advanced" entries which need to be postmarked no later than 30th April 2013 at an entry fee of £200 and "Late" entries which are postmarked after 30th April 2013 at an entry fee of £250. To save £50 and help SCYC plan for numbers it would be great to see a completed entry form by the 30th April if at all possible.

More details to follow.