The 2024 Squib Championships

Going into the last race of the Squib Championships, two boats had dominated the racing:  Micky Wright and Alex Porteous in Spoof from the Royal Corinthian YC had 20 points and Tom Jeffcoat crewed by owner Mark Hogan in RicO’Shea from South Caernarvonshire YC had 24 points.

Leaving the dock, it seemed that the Squib fleet would face a stronger breeze than it had enjoyed all week but once in the race area the offshore wind was rarely more than 6 knots from the South- West. The start line had a clear starboard bias, but down at pin end there was a pre-syart match race taking place between series leaders Spoof and RicO’Shea. Meanwhile, Malcolm Hutchings ‘Lady Penelope’ took a route to the windward mark on the right hand side of the course to lead narrowly led at the first windward mark. On the long run the wind shifted twenty degrees to the South which created some compression of the fleet so at the first leeward gate some boats were rounding four abreast.

The following beat was quite one-sided but the wind was shifting enough to create some passing lanes and the steadily backing and filling wind turned the next run into a fast reach. For the final  windward leg the mark was moved 500m South and the right hand side of this beat enjoyed good wind shifts and had more pressure.

At the finish the order was Malcolm Hutchings ‘Lady Penelope’, Malcolm Blackburn’s Moonstone and Dick Batt’s Squib. ‘Spoof’ finished in 6th with ‘RicO’Shea’ one place behind. This was sufficient for ‘Spoof’ crewed by Alex Porteous to secure the 2024 Squib National Championship title.

Congratulations and thankyou to Royal Forth YC for running an efficient and hugely enjoyable championships. The Royal Forth Yacht Club would in turn like to thank the sponsors and supporters of this regatta, Stewart Brewing, Pickering’s Gin, Batt Sails and Hyde Sails