Bandon Co-op Irish Squib Championship at Kinsale Yacht Club

Irish Squib Championship at Kinsale © Fiona Ward

Irish Squib Championship at Kinsale © Fiona Ward

Irish Squib Championship at Kinsale © Fiona Ward

This event which had been scheduled for mid-August, was postponed due to a forecast of high winds. The rescheduled event had a reduced entry, as it was too late in the year for some Squib owners, resulting in a total entry was 20 boats, eleven from the home club, three each from Royal North of Ireland and Killyleagh, and one from Lough Derg, Royal Irish and Glandore Harbour and Howth clubs. The event was reduced to two days, due to lack of light for a Friday evening race.

On Saturday the offshore Northerly wind progressively built up during the day to about 15knots, but remained shifty all day, with occelations of up to 20 degrees. After three relatively short races, the leader-board created much excitement, due to Fuggles leading the fleet with a 1, 1, 2 placing. Fuggles sailed by Jeff Condell and Jeff Cochrane uses the Olympic Sails which were recently approved by the National Squib Owners Association. These sails have some of the look of a Hyde sail, and use the same sailcloth.

On Sunday it was a struggle to get to the racing area in time, due to no wind in the inner and outer harbours. Racing was postponed until everybody arrived, by which time there was a good 12 knots of wind and a building sea. Son and father combination of Cian O'Regan in Fagin turned the cards around, with her incredible upwind speed in the big sea, pulled off a 1, 2, 1 result. The skill necessary for this type of racing involved maintaining high speed planing for 30 seconds or more on the dead runs. Race no. six was an embarrassing race for the organisers, as almost 30% of the twenty competitors headed for shore, not because the wind was too strong, but because of the time involved in craning out and driving home over the full length of the island of Ireland.

If John Driscoll and David Cagney in Afficianado had not been recalled in race one, the championship would have been theirs. In fact the closeness of the championship can be seen with four points separating the top five boats, whose speed exceeded that of the rest of the fleet. Clionhna O'Regan in Sedition in 11th place was the top lady helm.

Cian & Finbarr O'Regan win the Irish Squib Championship at Kinsale - photo © Fiona Ward

Overall Results: