Squibs South Coast Championship at West Hoe Sailing Club

The leaders reach the leeward mark during the Squib South Coast Championship in Plymouth © KF Woodgate

Winners (left to right) Tony Saltonstall, Alec Blagdon (President of West Hoe SC), Peter Marchant during the Squib South Coast Championship in Plymouth © KF Woodgate

8th and 9th September and Summer returned in time for the Squib South Coast Championship in Plymouth, sponsored by Batt Sails, Blakes Paints, Holt Allen, Hyde Sails, Lonton & Gray Sailmakers, Rooster Sailing and White Marine Services. 21 boats came to the line on a bright Saturday morning with one other Squib, 809 Squffy, having arrived in Plymouth with a sick crew.

The fleet came from most parts of England and Wales – five local boats being joined by visitors from Dartmouth, Weymouth, the Isle of Wight, Burnham, Lowestoft, Bridlington, Rutland and Caernarvon. Handling a 680 kilogram (0.7 ton) keelboat on a trailer may sound tricky but Squibs tow very easily.

The wonderful Race Officer, Colin Cotton, managed three races each day and the fleet was royally entertained, to supper on the Friday at the Royal Western Yacht Club and to dinner on the Saturday at the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club.

Saturday dawned to brilliant sunshine and a building wind that rose to near force 3. Sunday was light and tricky. Short legs inside the Plymouth breakwater and light winds on the second day made for intimate moments at the leeward marks, the fleet often cosying up and going round together with perhaps a few bumps and grinds – but being Squibs, no bad language. Squibs race against each other, of course, but they race for each other more.

All in all, a pleasant change from the gales that have visited all other Squib open events this year - but it meant that experience paid off. The South Coast Champions for 2007 have won at least four National or Inland Championships between them, the Chairman Emeritus of the Squib Association, Peter Marchant, and the Technical Advisor, Tony Saltonstall, sailing 801 Tears for Fears,

Placed second, 800 Alchemy contained more of the famous Saltonstall genes with son Adam crewing Gerard Dyson, twice Inland Champion. In third place, 823 Humphrey from Burnham, were Robert Coyle with Mel Titmus, one of five ladies racing, while the current National Squib Champions, Mike and Penny Fenwick in Ghost Rider 758 from Weymouth, led at the end of the first day but fell to fourth overall in the virtually indecipherable winds of Sunday. The first West Hoe SC boat home was helmed by the current Squib Association Chairman and West Hoe SC Club Captain, David Wines, crewed by Tony Procter in 828 White Magic.

Overall Results: