Squib South Coast Championship at Royal Victoria Yacht Club

It was with great anticipation the RVYC realised it would be hosting 12 of the top 20 boats from the 2014 Squib Nationals. So it was no surprise to find the fleet (30 boats, 61 competitors) hotly contested at the starts throughout the 2 day event, though the black flag was used sparingly.

The sun shone and the wind was from the East and North East which allowed the organisers to entertain the fleet with the Royal Vic's best sailing areas. On Saturday we went West towards Osborne Bay and in medium, light and slight winds, we managed 3 races. Courses were windward leeward or triangle sausage with a leeward finish. The usual suspects percolated to the top of the result table but not without some significant names (notably Squib, Hussar, Panther III) failing to get a result on the second race as the race got timed out.

This put the pressure on race Officer Jeremy Spencer Cooper to get all 3 races completed on Sunday within the last race start time limit to ensure we got a discard and it didn't skew the final results. On Sunday we raced up near Ryde Pier, close to the grand old Royal Vic clubhouse of yore.

With 10-15 knots of wind, the racing was a fine contrast to the Saturday's 'creeping around the courses'. The currents, though less than on the Sunday, played their normal part in confusing half the fleet on the first leg and as the advantage was revealed, the right hand of the course got favoured.

The final results for the whole event came in, no protests were made and prize giving records that....

1st Spoof (811) Mike Wright & Mel Titmus
2nd Guy Fawkes (72) Phil Aspinall & Hugh Enkel
3rd Aquabat (13) Ian Keely & Steve Warren-Smith

Well done to the worthy Champions.

There was some confusion as to who had one the 1st Helm over 65 yrs. Initially it was awarded to Steve Warren Smith, but then finally to Ian Grey. 1st helm under 25 and 1st Lady helm were both won by Emma Baker in Rhapsody in Blue.

Best Newcomers to the fleet were won by Harry White (14 yrs old), Tom White (14 yrs old), Charlie White (14 yrs old) and Alex Downer White (12 yrs old). Alice was helmed by the White brothers in turn and recorded a creditable 12th on Race 6. Alex Downer crewed on Buccaneer and got a 12th and an 11th. The future started here!

RVYC is a volunteer club and 23 competitors & non competitors were all thanked in turn by Race Organiser: Phil Russell/ RVYC Commodore: Tony Pope/ RVYC Squib Class Captain/ Marney Gibson. The neighbouring Seaview Yacht Club was also thanked for their use of the committee boat along with Race Officer Jeremy Spencer Cooper.

Phil Aspinall got the RVYC yearly Last Night of The Proms celebration going with a fine list of worthy Dick of the Day nominations. It was won by Incognito (558) for wrapping his rudder around the finish mark. The evening was marked by pomp, patriotic hoo- ha and way to much celebration at the bar.

Our thanks go to our sponsors, Wightlink (car ferry to IOW) who very generously supported our visiting yachtsmen with exceptionally favourable rates for their crossing to the island.

Overall Results: