60 entries for the Holyhead Squib Nationals
by Paul Austin, Hyde Sails 22 Jul 2004 15:44 BST
60 boats of eager Squibers made there way to Holyhead between 18th- 25th June for there 2004 nationals. During the week the weather threw everything at the fleet, from race’s with little wind to race’s that ended up abandoned due to near gales. Not only did the wind conditions play a big roll through out the week, there where problems with wind bends and strong tides for the competitor’s to contend with across the whole of the race track making tactical decision’s a very important part of the weeks sailing.
By the end of the week and with the final results out it became apparent that 6 Hyde placed boats where in the top 8. The only downside was that we had 3rd to 8th place. A congratulation’s to Chris and Mark Hogan still go out from Hyde sails for taking 1st place at the event and becoming the squib national champions again. Below are a list of Hyde sails top results and I would like to take this opportunity of saying well done to you all whatever your results!
Hyde Sails Results:
3rd Banshee
4th Tears for fears
5th Insatiable
6th Crossfire
7th Seven
8th Brimstone
Hyde Sails Squib Training Weekend at Royal Northern Ireland Yacht Club
Sian McCleave from the RNIYC had been talking to me about coming over for a squib training weekend for a while and she managed to pin me down for the weekend of 22nd and 23rd May. This just happened to co-inside with a squib dinner and social evening that Sian had been planning. So with this in mind off I went to see the RNIYC squib fleet to see if I could be of any assistance.
After flying in on the Friday night and a few drinks in the Yacht club we set out going sailing on Saturday morning ( after my first Ulster fry ). There where 12 boats in total that turned out for the weekend, armed with a video and digital camera and the help of Leah ( ‘rabbit’ the dangerous rib driver ) of we went to start the weekend training. To start off with we made a start line and videoed the boats coming through the line with both the crew and helm acknowledging when they thought they where on the line. This did pose quiet a difficulty to some crews but especially as us crews know more so for the helms!
After this we set about organising 3 x one round wind ward leeward races, this was designed so that we could spend some time with each boat up the beat and on the run looking at there set up and taking video and stills to show to everyone at the end of the day. Once the sail training had
finished that day the 12 boats all entered the clubs afternoon series race at 3 o’clock.
This then bought about the evenings social in the only way that the Irish know how, I would like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone for there hospitality and making me feel so welcome and causing my red wine hangover Sunday morning. With another day of training ahead we changed the format slightly and just set a 2 round windward leeward course, this enabled myself to jump onto each boat and have a look at each boats set up from onboard and perhaps help with a few boat manoeuvre’s. The main reason for this weekend being a success was the weather, according to Sian it is never sunny in Belfast especially not in May but luckily and thank fully for a person you comes from the south the sun shone all weekend and shorts where the order of the day.
Thanks again to every one for making this weekend a success and I look forward to seeing you all when I come over again socially at the end of the season.
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