Stewart Brewing Squib UK National Championships 2024 at Royal Forth Yacht Club - Final Analysis
by Vincent Delany 25 Jun 2024 17:14 BST
15-21 June 2024
Stewart Brewing Squib UK Nationals at Royal Forth Yacht Club Day 4 © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
There were 29 Squibs competing at this year's Nationals. This relatively low number of entries does not reflect a low level of interest in Squib Class racing, but is reflective of the distance which Squib owners would have had to travel to the event venue on the Forth, from the centres of Squib activities on the south and east coasts and from Ireland.
20.7% of Squibs came from Royal Corinthian YC, and the same number from South Caernarvonshire YC, 17% came from the host club, 6.8% from Haven Ports YC, and from Ireland and 3.4% from Tay YC, Royal Victoria YC, Waveney & Oulton Broad YC, Royal Yorkshire YC, Felixtowe, Portsmouth SC and Royal Torbay YC.
Last year's event in Weymouth held in strong winds, was dominated by Lonton and Grey Sails. Surprisingly, this year, most competitors were still using Batt Sails or Hyde Sails and only 3.4% of Squibs using Lonton and Grey sails which did not finish in the top ten boats.
'Spoof' the championship winner was flying Hyde Sails, but 'Spoof' was pushed very hard by 'RicO'Shea' on Batt Sails. On conclusion, both sails perform equally well in low to mid-strength wind conditions which were experienced this year.
There were many females within the fleet. The Squib lends itself to female participation, because the mainsail is of modest size, and double-purchase jib sheets are now in widespread use, and greatly reduce the jib sheet loads. 3.4% of the helms were female and 13.6% of the crews. This was not seen in any way as being a disadvantage, as the winning Squib was crewed by Alex Porteous. Almost all of the top boats have sailed with the same team of helm and crew for several years.
Within the Squib fleet there has always been discussions about the relative benefits of the different Squib manufacturers. 31% of the fleet consisted of low number Squibs manufactured by the designer, Oliver Lee, in Burnham. These are the preferred Squibs in most fleets, and the cost of purchasing one is now in the region of £6,000-£8,000 for a well-prepared racer. Second placed 'RicO'Shea' is an Oliver Lee Squib.
3.4% of the fleet consisted of mid-numbered boats built by Hunter Boats. These boats change hands for between £2,000 and £5,000. They have not won the Nationals since Dick Batt won the Nationals in 'Melody' in 1992.
58% of the fleet were Barker Brewer and Parker Sailboats. 'Spoof' the winning boat came from these manufacturers which change hands for similar money to the low number boats. 3.4% of the fleet were Rondar self-draining Squibs, with a 900 sail number. These Squibs normally change hands for about £15,000.
3.4% of the fleet were hybrid Squibs, in other words they were built as a Sandhopper Class, and the original keels removed and a deep Squib keel fitted.
Looking at the boats, were there any innovations in fittings or rigging? Yes, the boats using Batt Sails are now using tighter rigging than heretofore. The principle is to push the mast as far forward as possible, and for the rigging to be totally tight until the mast drops back. Hyde sail users tend to be following their manufacturers advice on rigging.
Despite the relatively light weather conditions on the Firth of Forth, most of the competitors have electric pumps fitted, but they had no use for them due to the light airs.
At the end of the day, the Championship was won thanks to good start management, careful strategy in shifty wind using nothing other than a TackTic Micro Compass and good instincts, and well-planned mark-rounding manoeuvres.
For 2025 the Squib Nationals will be at Royal Torbay Yacht Club.