Squib National Championship at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 1

Squib Nationals at Torbay day 1 © Keith Davies

Squib Nationals at Torbay day 1 © Keith Davies

54 Squibs started the initial day of their National Championship with an early morning start for a practice race prior to the first series race.

Weather was overcast and rainy with a lessening easterly wind causing some bouts of illness in residual heavy swell. Royal Torbay race officer, Bill Butcher, set a course in the middle of the bay and racing started promptly at 11:30.

The practice race was won by sailmaker Ian Gray crewed by Ian Simons sailing Chequemate from Royal Corinthian YC closely followed by Alchemy, Gerard Dyson and Tony Saltonstall from Royal Yorkshire and Aquabat, Stu Rix and Steve Warren-Smith, last years national winners from Royal Victoria. Silver and Bronze fleet winners were Magic Roundabout, Jason Phelps /Carl Anderton RCYC and Quantum, Eddie Harper and Steve Dadd from Weymouth. Finishing a very creditable 5th and 7th.

Rooster Sailing were the day sponsors and were kind enough to donate regalia and spot prizes. In an increasingly variable and reducing wind, after moving the race course find a more consistent breeze, the race 1 got under way but not before two ex national champions being U flagged and disqualified.

In a tricky slop but with now increasing pressure Joe Henry ably crewed by Roly Wilson sailing Baccante II we're first round the windward mark and held that position for the entire three lap race. Lots of place changing took place lower down the fleet with Steve Allso and Mark Hogan pulling up to second in RicO'Shea and Mike Probert and James Breyer in PaniMunta third both taking advantage of the strengthening breeze to seaward.

Silver and Bronze fleets were won by Flame, Richard Smith and Jamie Freeman from WOBYC and Incendio, Chris Rust and James Vineer from Portsmouth.

Results after Day 1: