Squib National Championships at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club Overall

by Vincent Delany 7 Jul 2013 08:20 BST 30 June - 5 July 2013

On Friday, the final day of the (62 boat) NDC Haulfryn Squib National Championships in Abersoch, the sun was shining, the wind was light, the waves were kindly, but the competition was intense.

Overnight the championship leaders were Mike and James Budd in 'Harry III' with inconsistent 3, 1, 4, 7, 37, 16 and 1 placings, which amounted to 16 points after 2 discards. In second place was David Jones and Mark Hogan in 'Ric O'Shea' with 11, 4, 1, 19, 1, 15, and 2, placings or 19 points after 2 discards. Alan Johnson and Jubby in 'Cariad Bach' had 25 points, Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey in 'Lady Penelope' had 26 points, and Simon Potts and Alan Woosey in 'Aspire' had 27 points. The final race held all the cards to ascertain which Squib team would carry off the Premier trophy.

The race was to be started with a favourable tide pushing the fleet over the start line. After several unsuccessful attempts to achieve a clean start, the patient OOD, Mike Butterfield, announced over the VHF radio that the next start would be under the 'black flag'. Despite this threat, many boats were over the line 15 seconds before the gun, and generously the answering pennant was hoisted, so nobody was penalized. This was followed by a second 'black flag' start. This time the start gun was followed by the 'first substitute', indicating a general recall. Ominously, 10 boats had been identified as being on the course side, and they included Nigel Grogan's 'Helmut Shoing II', Malcolm Blackburn's 'Moonstone', and Championship leader 'Harry III'.

With one flag, the championship leader board had been turned on its head.

The next start was successful in a flukey wind of about 6 knots on Course 2, a windward leeward course finishing at the leeward end. After 3 laps of the course in ever declining wind the winner was Robert and Tracy Coyle in 'Humphrey', from Owen Delany and Tony Holman in 'Tears for Fears', and Richard Robinson and Chris Trainor in 'Greyling'. Where were the championship leaders? Mike Budd was following the fleet in a RIB and was unable to impact on the race result. 'Aspire' took 9th. place, which was not good enough for her to win the event. 'Ric O'Shea' took 14th. place, 'Cariad Bach' 15th. and 'Lady Penelope' 17th.

So, who won the Championship?

The winner was Mike and James Budd in 'Harry III' on 32 points, ahead of 'Ric O'Shea' on 33 points and both 'Cariad Bach' and 'Lady Penelope' on 34 points. Was there ever a closer championship result with the top 4 boats within 3 points?

Photos are available at www.greenseaphotography.co.uk

Final Analysis

The National Squib keelboat fleet is unique within the UK, as a fleet with more former dinghy champions competing, than any other non-Olympic class. The 2013 Championship was held in South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club, the club which attracts gold fleet Squib sailors like bears to honey, in fact it attracts competitive Squibs from all over middle England and North Wales.

The week began on Sunday with strong wind and choppy waters, in these conditions the top three finishers used Hyde Sails, as did the ultimate Championship winner, 'Harry III'. Some competitors complained that the Hyde Sails allowed the Squibs to point higher in strong winds. In fact the boats using Hyde Sails do appear to sheet harder and further inboard that some other sailmakers. However as the week developed, and the winds lightened, Batt Sails won race 3, 4, 5, and 6. So, each of the leading sailmakers won 50% of the races. Lonton & Gray sails were used by only 2 competitors, but they did achieve a 3rd. place in race 6, and a 7th. place in race 8. These sails appear to excel in the flatter water found in inland venues.

The Championship winner competes with his son, which proves that the best team of all is the family who sail together.

Are there any unique features of the winning boat? It is a 2 year old boat, No. 883 built by Bruce Parker. Mike Budd has strong opinions on the keel location, which should be as far aft as the Class rules allow. His keel has been prepared as allowed by the Class rules. The boat is close to minimum weight of 680kg.. Otherwise the boat appears to be standard and 'off the shelf'.

Of the boats competing, 28 were low number boats (under No. 160), 6 were mid-number boats (under No. 724) and the majority were high number boats.

What developments are taking place within the National Squib Class?

The Class is 45 years old this year, and today's Squibs are quite different from those which competed in the early championships. All boats coming to the championship have variations on the same themes with adjustable jib Barbour haulers, adjustable jib and main halyards, adjustable Cunningham holes to the jib and mainsail, shooting spinnaker poles, two pumps, a digital compass, and adjustable kicking strap and backstay. Many boats, particularly those with female crews use double purchase on the jib sheets.

This year sails are being sheeted harder with jib Barbour haulers being brought further inboard and further aft to achieve less sail twist. Mainsails are also being sheeted more tightly, and travellers further to leeward, to achieve a tighter mainsail leech in almost all conditions, and more mast bend is employed in lighter conditions.

An important development in the Squib Class is the number and success of ladies. Three boats were helmed by ladies, and Jo Downer in 'Panther III' won race 4 and was 5th. in race 8. This is the first time a lady has ever won a race at the Squib Championship according to Class experts Tony Saltonstall and Gerard Dyson. There were 9 lady crews, many of whom, including race winner Tracy Coyle were at the top of the fleet, and one popular boat, 'Buckaneer' from Royal Victoria Y.C. had 3 ladies competing, Sarah Everett steering and Alex or Gina Porteous crewing.

Above all, the Squib fleet enjoy their sailing, and their shore activities which this year included Nick Spall, who treated them to a 'Stand Up Comic' daily prizegiving with magical musical support.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Squib nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Fleet	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Pts
1	881	Harry 111	Gold	Mike Budd	James Budd	SCYC	3	1	4	7	37	16	1	63	32
2	136	Ric O'Shea	Gold	David Jones	Mark Hogan	SCYC/Port Dinorwic SC	11	4	1	19	1	15	2	14	33
3	132	Cariad Bach	Gold	Alan Johnson	Jobby	SCYC	4	9	5	6	15	1	9	15	34
4	819	Lady Penelope	Gold	Malcolm Hutchings	Andy Ramsey	RCYC/Burnham SC	5	6	7	2	6	8	17	17	34
5	833	Aspire	Gold	Simon Potts	Alan Woosey	SCYC	9	8	3	12	8	4	4	9	36
6	811	Spoof	Gold	Micky Wright	Chris Dunn	RCYC	13	18	6	8	2	14	20	4	47
7	23	Grayling	Gold	Richard Robinson	Chris Trainor	SCYC	6	11	13	10	31	12	11	3	53
8	800	Alchemy	Gold	Gerard Dyson	Tony Saltonstall	Royal Yorks YC	7	16	8	30	11	13	7	10	56
9	65	Banshee	Gold	Nigel Harris	John Stephenson	SCYC	12	5	15	4	17	22	63	8	61
10	626	Panther 111	Gold	Jo Downer	Mark Downer	RVYC	10	29	12	1	13	25	23	5	64
11	105	Helmut Shoing II	Gold	Nigel Grogan	Jack Grogan	RCYC/RHYC	2	3	2	5	28	31	24	63	64
12	789	Dream On	Gold	Brian Holland	Tony Sampson	SCYC	17	12	3	15	9	30	26	11	67
13	72	Guy Fawkes	Gold	Phil Aspinall	Howie Enklel	RCYC	38	28	14	14	3	40	8	6	73
14	96	Moonstone	Gold	Malcolm Blackburn	David Shiel	SCYC	18	7	13	11	30	24	3	63	76
15	47	Insatiable	Silver	Jon Redding	John Bibby	Trearddur Bay SC	16	15	14	13	38	29	6	13	77
16	797	Crossfire	Gold	Dave Best	Pete Richards	SCYC	1	2	25	24	23	7	21	63	78
17	73	Brimstone	Gold	Bryan Riley	Jenny Riley	W&OBYC	31	22	10	26	22	3	14	7	78
18	754	Mayhem	Gold	Steve Allso	Glenn Pritchard	SCYC/PSC	14	13	11	31	7	32	25	21	91
19	823	Humphrey	Gold	Robert Coyle	Tracy Coyle	RCYC	24	41	21	16	24	23	12	1	97
20	128	Pani‑munta	Gold	M C Probert	J Bryer	RVYC	8	10	24	21	32	21	28	19	103
21	858	Bacchante	Gold	Gez Brown	Harvey Worden	SCYC	29	23	17	23	10	9	35	25	107
22	849	Essayess	Gold	Phil Snewin	Nick Spall	SCYC	22	32	18	3	19	17	34	30	109
23	36	Artemis 11	Silver	Andrew Moore	Peter Hallinan	Felixstowe Ferry	28	34	63	20	4	18	5	34	109
24	828	White Magic	Gold	David Wines	Keith Davies	West Hoe SC	15	63	63	17	36	6	13	31	118
25	760	Surprise	Silver	Duncan Grindley	Chris Jones	RCYC	27	20	27	27	40	2	43	32	135
26	872	Pocahontas	Gold	Mike Hughes	Gary Catterall	SCYC	20	27	9	36	18	26	36	63	136
27	127	Misfire	Gold	Roger Harris	Mark Thompson	SCYC	19	21	30	25	45	5	41	63	141
28	13	Aquabat	Silver	Jon Evans	Steve Warren‑Smith	RVYC	35	33	31	37	12	20	10	63	141
29	841	Billy Ruff'n	Silver	Tony Edwards	John Turner	Rutland SC	33	25	36	29	5	34	33	18	143
30	108	Ogo Pogo	Gold	Toby Taylor	Stephen Weake	SCYC	39	24	23	28	27	28	18	29	148
31	20	Bucaneer	Bronze	Sarah Everitt	Alex/Gina Porteous	RVYC/RCYC	47	38	35	9	16	36	42	16	150
32	123	O'Leary	Silver	Martin Hartley	Catherine Hartley	SCYC/RDYC	40	19	26	39	14	41	22	33	153
33	50	Tears for Fears	Silver	Owen Delany	Tony Holman	RNor&SufYC	34	53	42	35	47	11	30	2	154
34	878	Siadwell	Silver	Richard Date	Kim Vassey	Holyhead SC	36	17	19	34	35	63	15	63	156
35	845	Rock'n'Roll	Silver	John Sparrow	Ralph Banthorpe	SCYC	26	26	16	33	41	46	32	26	159
36	137	Harry 2	Silver	Paddy Atkinson	Neil Hampson	SCYC	23	35	22	18	33	42	38	63	169
37	838	Maximus	Gold	Max Evans	Chris Arnold	Felixstowe Ferry	30	14	20	22	48	45	48	63	179
38	755	Cybi	Bronze	Richard Roberts	Judy Roberts	Holyhead SC	42	45	43	41	21	35	19	22	180
39	818	Toy for the Boys	Silver	Peter Wallace	Sian McCleave	RNIrish YC	32	40	39	38	29	27	31	23	180
40	24	Femme Fatale	Silver	Vincent Delany	Noel Colclough	RStGYC	37	37	34	43	42	10	47	28	188
41	847	Lil Quickie	Bronze	Matthew Roberts	Tudor Roberts	Holyhead SC	50	47	37	51	39	50	16	12	201
42	160	Blood Sweat & Tears	Silver	David Lloyd	John Lee	RVYC/Portsmouth SC	25	39	40	40	25	33	39	63	201
43	152	Trio	Bronze	Frank Haslam	James Beasely	SCYC	63	31	41	50	26	44	49	20	211
44	829	Kachina Too	Silver	David Hall	Tim Hall	Holyhead SC	21	42	28	63	63	39	44	37	211
45	843	Roisin	Bronze	Ian Williams	Richard Delves	SCYC	44	44	33	42	44	19	40	35	213
46	805	Magic Flute	Bronze	Ian Ackroyd	Dave Stanyforth	SCYC	45	46	45	32	46	63	29	24	221
47	883	Just in Time	Silver	Neil Fulcher	Daniel Stone	Stone SC	63	36	29	44	20	48	45	63	222
48	879	Grey Matter	Bronze	Bob Smales	Peter Wood	Humber Yawl Club	43	50	38	47	43	37	46	27	234
49	111	Seven	Bronze	Mike Crompton	Wendy Martin	SCYC	46	48	44	46	34	63	27	63	245
50	85	Kitten	Bronze	ChrisPope	Jamie Pope	SCYC	48	43	32	49	49	53	37	36	245
51	752	Witts End IV	Bronze	Roger Sheers	Bill Smith	Holyhead SC	52	63	63	45	52	38	52	39	278
52	724	Tais	Bronze	Michael O'Connell	Eddie McCarron	Dublin Bay SC	63	52	49	53	51	43	53	40	288
53	589	Scaramouche	Bronze	Johnathan Stephenson	Stuart Lockwood	Humber Yawl Club	53	49	51	58	56	47	51	42	293
54	131	Smackerel	Bronze	Charlie Pearson	Neil Leach	SCYC/Royal Dee YC	49	54	47	52	55	52	50	43	293
55	30	Crimson Dusk	Bronze	Robin Delves	Matthew Delves	SCYC	51	51	52	48	58	63	63	38	298
56	39	First Tango	Bronze	Emily Thomas	Alex Davies	SCYC	56	63	50	54	50	49	57	41	300
57	401	Damp Squib	Bronze	George Downer	Amy Gaskin	RVYC	54	55	48	55	54	51	54	44	305
58	104	Wild Fire	Bronze	John Pritchard	James Pritchard	SCYC	41	30	46	63	63	63	63	63	306
59	727	Mosquito	Bronze	Ben Luddington	Jeremy Beal	RCYC	57	63	53	57	53	54	56	46	319
60	337	Dynamite	Bronze	Terence Stevens	Michael Humphrey	Weymouth SC	58	56	54	59	57	55	58	45	325
61	33	Peteca	Bronze	Richard Major	Raphaela Major	SCYC	63	63	63	56	59	63	55	63	359
62	564	Quicksilver	Bronze	Eddie Harper	Callum Foster	West Hoe SC	55	63	63	63	63	63	63	63	370