The inaugural Holyhead Squib Celtic Cup, held over the August Bank Holiday, was envisioned as a relaxed, fun-filled regatta for Squib sailors — a chance for Celtic Allcomers to test their skills on the stunning waters in and around Holyhead while enjoying a good- natured competition.
As always, the weather in “HolyMed” (as known locally) didn’t disappoint. Across three days, conditions ranged from a gentle 8–10 knots of breeze on Friday, with two races sailed in sunshine, to four back-to-back contests on Saturday and two on Sunday, all in glorious blue skies and a steady 15–22 knots from the South. Holyhead once again proved itself as the closest match to the Mediterranean — without the need for a £12 Easy Jet flight.
Ric O’Shea (136) absolutely dominated the weekend, claiming first place in seven of the eight races. But the Holyhead Squib fleet — proud hosts of the event — put up a valiant fight. Such was the local threat that Mark Hogan convinced the legendary Dave Jones to come out of retirement for Friday evening’s races… only to be swiftly benched in favour of the fleet’s “Wonder Kid”, Harrison Hogan, who stepped up for Saturday & Sunday’s showdown and gave the competition a real run for their money. Some say that he was fuelled solely on Haribo and Sprite, such was his domination.
Race 1 began with such intensity that Holyhead Squibs saw their first General Recall since 2015. On the restart, Tudor Roberts (847) accidentally opened a lane for Ric O’Shea to make a clean break, while Dave Jones (as temporary helm) made full use of the gusts to push through the fleet. Bobonski (57) sailed a smart central 
course to finish second, just ahead of Alkipops (836) and Lile Quicky (847), who were hot on their heels after catching a brief pressure shift that quickly vanished.
Race 2 was a tight, tactical affair with boats swapping positions all the way to the line. Ric O’Shea led to the bottom mark, gearing up for a third lap that didn’t exist. A timely shout from Richard and Craig Bobonski (57) let them know it was actually the final leg — allowing 136 to snap back to the finish just ahead of 57.
Saturday’s Trials and Tribulations
Saturday’s racing saw Dave Jones consigned to the “Subs bench” and replaced by young gun Harrison Hogan, who quickly discovered that this “friendly event” wasn’t pulling any punches. The day’s four races were mentally and physically demanding, with wind shifts, tidal changes, and pressure lines keeping everyone on their toes. Team 57 found themselves playing snakes and ladders with the fleet — sometimes flying through it, sometimes… just flying of course.
The evening wrapped up with burgers, chips, and well-earned pints at the bar. And, as is tradition among Squib sailors, everyone enthusiastically shared tales of what they could have, should have, and definitely would have done — had they only known better.
Sunday’s Showdown and Final Flourishes
Sunday brought the final two races of the regatta, continuing in much the same vein as the previous days — competitive, tactical, and full of surprises. With a long journey home ahead, Ric O’Shea (136) took advantage of their perfect record to use their discard on Race 8 and made a swift exit to the quay for haul-out, leaving the fleet to battle it out without their dominant presence. Race 7 saw Squib 198 “Patriot” burst out of the gate, leading the fleet to the windward mark and looking to capitalise on their early advantage. But as the race wore on, a combination of shifting breeze and tactical gambles saw the fleet fragment, creating opportunities — and setbacks — across the board. Positions shufled like a deck of cards, with some boats climbing through the fleet and others slipped back.
The final race brought drama right from the start. A sudden, sharp wind shift in the dying seconds of the countdown jammed nearly the entire fleet into the pin end, creating chaos. Only 847 and 57 escaped cleanly, seizing the opportunity — and in the absence of Team Hogan made an early break. But 836 and 87 weren’t letting them go that easily. 
The fleet split: 87 charged left, while 836, 847,
and 198 headed right. With just two laps to settle it, 57 crossed the finish line with 836 so close behind there wasn’t room for a single ply of toilet paper between
them. 87 and 847 followed in hot pursuit, rounding of a thrilling and hard-fought conclusion to the event.
A special mention must also go to Osian Owen, Holyhead Squib Fleet’s youngest and newest sailor. At just 11 years old, Osian showed real promise, sailing alongside his father Tudur in Atomic. The pair put in a series of steady, consistent performances — a sure sign of future brilliance from Osian.
Final Positions:
Celtic Champs resultsLooking Ahead
The Holyhead Squib Fleet plans to make the Celtic Cup an annual fixture, building on the success of this inaugural event. Looking to 2026, the fleet will aim to select a date that welcomes all comers — and may even align the event with the Squib Nationals, offering a perfect prelude and “warm-up” for teams keen to get a feel for Welsh waters (both on the racecourse and in the bar).