Squib National Championship 2025 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 3

The Race Team from Royal Torbay under the excellent leadership of Bill Butcher, PRO, again provided a perfect, if difficult, day's sailing on the now tranquil waters of Torbay. Light winds, initially from the East, became stronger and veered to the South.

After a long wait for the wind to steady, Race 4, under the now almost compulsory U flag, started with a port biased line but with boats all along its length.

Squib Nationals 2025 at Torbay Day 3 - photo © Edward Aspinall / www.edwardaspinall.com

Early port tack boats, "Squib" sailed by Dick Batt and Pete Richards from Royal Victoria YC, "Essayes" Phil Snewin and Brian Holland from SCYC and "Flame" Richard Smith and Graham Reeve, took advantage of a strengthening breeze on the right of the course to lead at the windward mark in that order. "Spoof", Micky Wright and Alex Porteous were a close fourth. Squib continued to hold the lead at every mark but behind, a contest evolved between Spoof, Flame and an upcoming Moonstone, Malcolm Blackburn crewed by Steve Allso, who eventually finished second with Flame third and Spoof fourth. Nigel Grogan and Ben McGrane were fifth in "Helmut Schoing II".

Squib Nationals 2025 at Torbay Day 3 - photo © Edward Aspinall / www.edwardaspinall.com

The wind was light and flukey for Race 4, which started with a strong port biased line with Spoof gaining the advantage at the windward mark closely followed by Squib and Helmut Schoing II. Lots of place changing on the run and throughout the race resulted in Helmut Shoeing II taking a convincing lead followed by Jack Grogan and Mike Banks in Budgies Tongue from West Mersey YC. Dan Henderson and Marc Moncrieff in Penny Benjamin came third closely followed by Spoof in fourth and Rico'Shea, Tom Jeffcote and Marc Hogan in fifth place. The first father and son combination of first and second place in a Squib Championship Race.

Overall the situation has changed slightly. Spoof in the lead with 14 points, followed by Moonstone on 16 points, then Helmut Shoing II on 18.7 points.

Squib Nationals 2025 at Torbay Day 3 - photo © Edward Aspinall / www.edwardaspinall.com

Thank you to the sponsors for the event; Batt Sails, Hyde Sails, Harken, Holt, Robline, Stichprint, Sea Sure and Westway sails.

Results after Day 3: