Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard June to September

A letter from the Chairman of the Squib Owners Association

by Jenny Riley, Chairman, National Squib Owners Assoc 31 Aug 2010 10:27 BST

I have recently taken part in another wonderful championship week at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, near Dublin, where I also started my term as Chairman of the National Squib Class. In this letter, I am delighted to give you a quick taster of why the Squib is such a great boat and why the Squib Fleet continues to go from strength to strength.

Bryan and I bought our Squib “Brimstone” in 1986, when our children were so small that they regularly sailed with us as extra crew. We first raced at Aldeburgh, then Lowestoft and then joined in with the winter racing at Oulton Broad. We were hooked straight away – competition was keen and challenging in all wind strengths and weathers and as we progressed to sailing at National level, we realised that the camaraderie and fairness of the Squib Fleet is second to none. Even after competing in 23 championships, we still love the challenge and fun of sailing in a big fleet with some of the best and most experienced sailors in the country at some of the finest venues in Britain and Ireland.

Brimstone is now 40 years old and it is a strength of the class that both old boats and new ones can be equally competitive. New Squibs, (built by Bruce Parker) fitted out and ready to race, offer great value for money and there are always plenty of people ready to offer help and advice if need be. The Squib is an easy and forgiving boat to sail; it is competitive with a wide variation of crew weights, is extremely seaworthy and has proved itself in all conditions.

However it is also tricky to sail fast and the closeness and high standard of racing continues to attract a number of world and national champions from other classes. Major events are well supported, with area Championships and the Inland Championships at Rutland regularly attracting 50+ entries. In 2009, the National Championships at Weymouth achieved a record 108 Squibs on the start line. There are Squib fleets throughout the UK and Ireland and we are hoping to build up new fleets in the future.

Most of all, I recommend the Squib to anyone who is looking to enjoy competitive, fair and safe sailing with like minded, helpful and fun-loving friends. I am delighted and honoured to be chairman of this great Class.

Jenny Riley
Chairman
National Squib Owners Association

Related Articles

Squib Nationals at Torbay Day 1
The 46-strong fleet get the first race away on the fourth attempt The 46 Squibs launched on Sunday took part in a Practice Race and the first Points Race on Monday in a variable westerly wind. Conditions were difficult with up to 40 degree windshifts and variation in strength from 6 to 16 knots. Posted today at 5:01 am
Quality fleet of 46 set for Squib Nationals
Scrutineering, weighing and launching today at Torquay A high quality fleet of 46 Squibs are gathering in Torquay to compete in the 2025 Nationals. Entries have been received from all parts of the UK and Ireland including Kinsale, Dundee, Edinburgh, Abersoch, East Coast clubs, Weymouth and the Isle of Wight. Posted on 22 Jun
Squibs at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk June Regatta
A wonderful summer's day greeted the fleet A wonderful summer's day greeted the nine Squibs at RN&SYC (the UK's most Easterly Yacht Club) for the annual June Regatta weekend. The wind was forecast to pick up to 30 knots during the afternoon, so two races were planned for the morning, back to back. Posted on 16 Jun
Squib National Championship in a fortnight
Torbay last saw the Grogans win together - now they are up against each other There is now a little over a fortnight to go until the Squib Class returns to the Royal Torbay Yacht Club for the National Championships on the 22nd of June. Posted on 8 Jun
Save the Date - Cowes Classics Regatta 2026
The dates now confirmed after a highly successful 2025 event As the curtain comes down on what has been a remarkable Cowes Classics Week 2025, thoughts at the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club turn towards the hosting of Cowes Classics Regatta 2026 with the dates now confirmed. Posted on 5 Jun
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 overall
Building breeze and sea state create a spectacular conclusion Ahead of an oncoming, breeze-filled front from the west, the superb race management teams, under the watchful eye of Principal Race Officer Tim Hancock, elected to send all the fleets out early on the concluding day of Cowes Classics Regatta 2025. Posted on 1 Jun
Medway Yacht Club Keelboat Regatta approaching
It's not too late to enter! It is just two weeks before The Medway Yacht Club hosts the 2025 Medway Yacht Club Keelboat Regatta. The dates are 13th to 15th June. Our principal sponsor is Pirates Cave Yacht Chandlery. Posted on 1 Jun
Where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment
Seats, hoists, etc for sailors with a disability Several organisations have contributed their knowledge regarding where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment such as seats for dinghies and hoists for wheelchair users to get into boats. Posted on 1 Jun
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 2
Fog lifts on the Solent to reveal the front-runner A dense, wispy fog sat over the Solent this morning, hampering visibility and causing Cowes Classics Regatta Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, to call a short delay shoreside to let the sun burn through and leave a simply stunning day for all. Posted on 31 May
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 1
Perfect Solent Conditions The Solent shimmered and glistened under early summer sunshine and with a brisk building Force 3-4 westerly wind over tide initially before the turn mid-afternoon, the racing areas of Hill Head and Osborne Bay offered near-perfect conditions. Posted on 31 May