Squib Gold Cup at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham
by David White 7 May 2010 12:21 BST
1-3 May 2010
Alchemy during the Squib Gold Cup at Burnham © George Winder
The first major of the season for UK Squibs, the Squib Gold Cup, was held May 1st to 3rd, hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch, and attracting a quality field of 19 boats. Eight races were scheduled but this programme was severely curtailed by the weather.
Three races were planned for Saturday’s sunshine but these were lost due to lack of wind. Race Officer Edwin Buckley had planned to hold extra races on the Sunday but strong winds, low temperature and driving rain curtailed the programme yet again. Two races were held in very difficult conditions and beating against the strong current in the Roach added to the challenge for the crews.
In the first race Nigel Grogan and Daniel Cripps edged in front but they were chased hard by Gerard Dyson and Tony Saltonstall. These two enjoyed a close battle but Grogan always had the upper hand and held on to win with Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey a close third. The second race followed a similar pattern with the same three boats in contention. However a collision at the end of the run between Dyson & Grogan resulted in disqualification for the latter and consequently moved Dave White and Mel Titmus up to third. The race officer then took the sensible decision to abandon for the day, no doubt saving the fleet from hyperthermia. This left the programme 6 races short and the intention was to try to recoup some of the programme with 4 short races on the Monday.
Monday dawned bright and breezy and the fleet assembled at the mouth of the Roach with some optimism. The first race got away in bright sunshine with an interesting beat along the West shore of the Roach. Peter Marchant and Marc Rawinsky just edged ahead of White & Titmus at the top mark and sailed conservatively to take the winning gun from White with Dyson in third place ahead of Hutchings. As the fleet awaited the next warning signal a vicious squall swept up the Roach and the race committee wisely abandoned racing for the day leaving Dyson and Saltonstall winners of the prestigious Burnham Gold Cup.
The results were very satisfactory for Lonton and Gray with winner Gerard Dyson using these sails for the first time, Dave White in third place and Bryan & Jenny Riley in 7th overall.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 800 | Alchemy | Gerard Dyson | Tony Saltonstall | RYYC | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | 819 | Lady Penelope | Malcolm Hutchins | Andy Ramsey | RCYC | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | 83 | Easy | Dave White | Mel Titmus | FFSC | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 | 811 | Spoof | Mickey Wright | Dean Beckwith | RCYC | 7 | 5 | 5 | 17 |
| 5 | 869 | Tears in Heaven | Peter Marchant | Marc Rawinsky | RCYC | 20 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| 6 | 72 | Guy Fawkes | Phil Aspinall | Sarah Hastwell | RCYC | 11 | 7 | 8 | 26 |
| 7 | 73 | Brimstone | Brian Riley | Jenny Riley | W&OBYC | 6 | 20 | 7 | 33 |
| 8 | 823 | Humphrey | Robert Coyle | Tracey Coyle | RCYC | 8 | 20 | 9 | 37 |
| 9 | 25 | Crackers | Phil Shanahan | Andy Woodhill | RCYC | 20 | 6 | 13 | 39 |
| 10 | 848 | Caesar of Burnham | Adrian Fluker | Mathew Anthony | RCYC | 10 | 20 | 10 | 40 |
| 11 | 105 | Helmut Showing | Nigel Grogan | Jack Grogan | RCYC | 1 | 20 | 20 | 41 |
| 12 | 841 | Billy Ruff'n | David West | John Poskitt | RN&SYC | 12 | 20 | 11 | 43 |
| 13 | 862 | Brutus | Simon Griffin | Tim Rigler | RCYC | 4 | 20 | 20 | 44 |
| 14 | 50 | Fire Bird | Owen Delaney | Tony Holman | W&OBYC | 20 | 20 | 6 | 46 |
| 15 | 779 | What’s the Story | Simon Sanders | Chris Dunn | RCYC | 9 | 20 | 20 | 49 |
| 16 | 21 | Tombo | Bill Jones | Martin Hipsey | RCYC | 20 | 20 | 12 | 52 |
| 17 | 762 | Patrick | Brian Tucker | Allan Jones | RCYC | 13 | 20 | 20 | 53 |
| 18 | 599 | Wombat | Steve Barham | Steve Bright | RCYC | 20 | 20 | 20 | 60 |
| 18 | 757 | Sunshine | Anne Heasley | Arthur Heasley | RCYC | 20 | 20 | 20 | 60 |