#squib – There is an unwritten tradition that the Irish Championship is always won by a Northern boat but perhaps 2012 is the year for a winner from Kinsale, Howth or Dun Laoghaire? The Irish National Championships is to be held from 25th to 27th August at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, which is conveniently located almost equidistant from the main centres of Squib racing at Wexford, Kinsale, Glandore, Mayo, Belfast Lough and Strangford Lough.
Already in 2012 we have had two regional championships which produced very different results. The South Coast Championship in Kinsale with a fleet of 17 boats was won by husband and wife team- Marcus and Meghan Hutchinson from the home club in 'Sensation'. Second was James and Bruce Matthews in 'Mucky Duck' also from Kinsale. Third place was taken by the consistent 'Toy for the Boys' sailed by Peter Wallace and Kerry Boomer from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. None of the Dublin boats featured in the results.
The Northern Championship in Killyleagh Sailing Club on Strangford Lough in June with a fleet of 21 was won by Inis'allagh steered by David Eccles and Philip Hutchinson from Royal North of Ireland, second was Gordon Patterson and Ross Nolan in 'Quickstep' from the same club, with Brian O'Hare and Tonya Mc.Allister in 'Nimble' from Royal St. George in Dun Laoghaire in third place.
At the U.K. National Championships in Dartmouth in July the best Irish boat was husand and wife Johnathan Craig and Hazel Ruane in 'Kerfuffle' followed by Vincent Delany and Fergal Gaynor in 'Femme Fatale'.
This should be one of the most open Irish Squib Championships for years.
A Squib keelboat is a modest two man sailing boat, almost 6m. long but with a small sail area. It was designed some 40 years ago and retains its popularity with more than 870 boats throughout Britain and Ireland.
