National Squib Irish Championship at the Royal Irish Yacht Club - Overall
by Vincent Delany 19 Aug 2018 20:42 BST
17-19 August 2018
The National Squib Irish Championship was hosted this year by the elegant Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire from 17-19 August. A feature of this championship was the very small differences in performance between the Squibs, irrespective of sailmakers or age of boat.
Nineteen boats competed which included a substantial contingent of competitors from Killyleagh and Cultra in Northern Ireland, and one very welcome visitor from Holyhead, Wales, Tudor Robert's 'L'il Quickie'. Two boats were crewed by father and son teams- Greg & Harry Bell in 'Prodigal', and Dave & Simon Sheahan in their recently acquired 'O'Leary.' The ladies helming in the fleet included Sheila Power in 'Perfection', Mary Faherty who is 'Ab. Fab.', and Serena Blacoe in 'Seabiscuit'. Among the skilled female crews were Fiona Ward, Tonia McAllister, and Linda Darb.
Race one on Friday was held in strenuous conditions with 500mm waves and unstable winds varying from 22 kts. to 6 kts., which required quick changing of gears by the crews. Peter Wallace and Martin Weatherstone were worthy winners.
Races two to five were held on Saturday in the flat water west of Dun Laoghaire Harbour with an oscillating wind of up to ten knots. Race winners were 'Fagan', 'Aficianado', and 'Toy for the Boys' who took two guns.
The final race in similar conditions but with a steadier breeze was held close to the entrance to Dublin Port. 'Allegro' led this race from beginning to end. Regrettably, her final placing did not reflect her speed and tactical finesse on the water.
Are there any conclusions to be drawn from this event? 'Toys' uses Hyde sails, but 'Fagan' uses Batt Sails. Many of the top crews weigh more than 160 kg. combined weight. All of the boats were weighed before the event, and most were close to the minimum weight, and only one was found to be below 680 kg., and was therefore required to install additional weight. Regional and National championships such as this really do provide a great opportunity for like-minded people to compare notes, and to increase their skills.
The next regional championships for the Squib Class in Ireland is the popular Irish inland Championship at Lough Derg Yacht Club, Dromineer in October. For more information on Squibs see www.nsoa.co.uk
Overall Results:
Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
1 | Toy for the Boys | 818 | Peter Wallace | Martin Weatherstone | RNIYC | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
2 | Fagan | 100 | Gordon Patterson | Ross Nolan | RNIYC | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
3 | Aficianado | 78 | John Driscoll | Chris Gracey | RNIYC | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 18 |
4 | Slipstream | 102 | David Ferris | Robert Marshall | Killyleagh | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
5 | Prodigal | 146 | Greg Bell | Harry Bell | RNIYC | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 23 |
6 | Allegro | 134 | Colm Dunne | Fiona Ward | Kinsale | 6 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
7 | Firecracker | 149 | Stephen Bridges | Matthew Bolton | Killyleagh | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 6 | 36 |
8 | Sidewinder | 138 | Rupert Westrup | Tonia McAllister | RStGYC | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 37 |
9 | Tears in Heaven | 869 | Fergus O'Kelly | David Cotter | Howth | 11 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 39 |
10 | Billy Ruff'n | 841 | Dermot Quinn | TBC | Killyleagh | 12 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 43 |
11 | Perfection | 44 | Sheila Power | Vincent Delany | RStGYC | 13 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 12 | 49 |
12 | Gizmo | 746 | Johnny Park | Bob Stinson | RNIYC | 7 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 49 |
13 | O'Leary | 123 | Dave Sheahan | Simon Sheahan | Howth | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 51 |
14 | Periquin | 48 | John White | Noel Colclough | DMYC | 16 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 69 |
15 | L'il Quickie | 847 | Tudor Roberts | Leuan Williams | Holyhead | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 20 | 14 | 71 |
16 | Ab Fab. | 792 | Mary Faherty | Linda Darbey | Howth | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 78 |
17 | Fox | 738 | Michael Moran | Michael Shiel | RStGYC | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 81 |
18 | Volante | 807 | Simon Watson | Ryan Withers | Killyleagh | 14 | 11 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 85 |
19 | Seabiscuit | 423 | Serena Blacoe | Emmet Dalton | Howth | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 95 |