Beating off stiff competition from Kinsale and Royal North of Ireland YC, Howth Yacht Club has won the bid to host the 2015 Squib Nationals to which over 70 boats from across the UK and Ireland will be expected to travel.
Every five years, the event comes to Ireland and was last on this side of the water in 2010 at the Royal St. George YC. The Irish Squib Forum will formally put Howth forward as the chosen venue for the 2015 event and preparations will start soon.
Until a few years ago, Howth’s 1996 running of the “Nationals” (as opposed to the Irish Championships), held the record for the highest number of entries at 100. Since then, Howth hosted the regatta in 2005, with another large entry of 82.
Key to Howth’s success was its considerable resources such as marina space, cranes, committee boats, clubhouse facilities and on-site staff) and its team of experienced organisers, race officials, mark layers, etc).
The week-long event is expected to provide another significant boost to the local economy.