National Squib Inland Championship at Rutland Sailing Club

Squib Inlands at Rutland © Malcolm McGregor

Off the back of a very successful National Championship with 100 boats held during Lendy Cowes Week, 39 teams made the yearly trip to Rutland Water for the re-formatted Inlands, which had been changed from the usual five races competed over the weekend to the new format of seven races. The change was put in place to have more races per day in case, as so often in Autumn, the weather does not play ball. This turned out to be a wise decision!

Saturday dawned and it was 15-18knots with drizzle and a definite winter chill in the air. However, the race officer proceeded to start the racing at 10:30am, as promised, and delivered four perfect races only lasting 45 minutes keeping all helms and crews warm enough not to complain.

After four races on the Saturday it was Alan Johnson and Dave Garlick showing that their time away from the class, due to illness, was not hindering them. They lead over night from current national champions Stu Rix and Steve Warren-Smith and with a great performance from Nic Tolhurst and Mel Titmus putting them 1 point further back in third.

Sunday was the opposite of Saturday. The sun was out and wind was absent. The race officer postponed for 30mins to let what looked like a steady 4-5 knots build and managed to get a race started. It was a light beat, but fair. However, as teams rounded the top mark spinnakers began to sag and the race officer felt there was no option but to abandon. With that being the case the championship committee, who feedback the fleet's morale during racing, decided with the forecast of no wind there was little point in hanging around waiting for the inevitable so it was time to head home and crane out, leaving Alan and Dave worthy winners.

A couple of things worth mentioning are; Nic and Mel's very consistent sailing in all conditions very nearly resulted in their first big event win. In the only race started on Sunday they were leading, which with Alan and Dave and Stu and Steve very mid fleet, the championship looked to be their's!

Nigel and Jack Grogan came fourth in the new Rondar boat. It looked to be on the pace but not faster than the current boats, however, of course there are a few gremlins to iron out.

The NSOA needs a mention. As the revised format meant we got that extra race in on Saturday, meaning we all had a discard, which some needed.

Thanks to the race officer and his team for taking on board all the classes feedback and producing four perfect races, which were turned around quickly.

With teams travelling from Wales, Scotland and England, the competition was fierce and as usual in this competitive fleet it's always hard to know whose turn it is to do the winning! In fact there were seven national champions in the top ten!

Overall Results: