#squib – A strong Royal North of Ireland contingent took the top three places overall at yesterday's 23–boat Squib keelboat eastern championships at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Full results are available to download below. Overall winners were 1996 Olympic helmsman John Driscoll sailing with David Cagney on 6 nett points. Second on ten points was Royal North club mates Gordon Patterson and Ross Nolan with third going to Des Clayton and Paul Henry on 20 points. Local Royal St. George crew Pete Evans and Paul Maguire were next home on 22 points.
As well as Royal North of Ireland visitors came from Killyleagh, Royal Irish Yacht Club, and National Yacht Club.
The first three races were held in approx. 15kts. of cold northerly wind with a big confused sea left over from gales of the previous night.
Race 1 was won by Martin Byrne and Joe O'Byrne in 24, Femme Fatale from Pete Evans and Paul Maguire in 832, Anemos and Peter and Marie Dee in 813 Kookaburra. Remarkably each of these Dublin Bay boats is manned by refugees from the Dragon fleet.
Race 2 was won by Olympian John Driscoll and Dave Cagney in 78, Afficianado from Gordon Patterson and Ross Nolan in Quickstep III with Des Clayton and Paul Henry in 794, Inismara. This result with three northern boats is a carbon copy of the final overall placings.
With crews getting tired in the strenuous conditions, Race 3 was won by Quickstep III followed by Afficianado and Anemos
Overnight the leaders were Quickstep III from Femme Fatale and Inismara on equal points. The Royal St. George put on an enjoyable dinner for all the competitors and their friends and partners.
Sunday dawned with very different conditions, sunshine, fickle winds of between 3-6 knots which progressively swung around from the west to the north. Fortunately the waves had declined from the previous day, so the conditions were more kindly to the lighter crews.
Race 4 was won by light air specialist Frank Whelan 46, in Lola from Afficianado and Kookaburra. After 4 races a discard was applied which was beneficial to Afficianado who had missed the first race (for reasons best known to themselves), and Anemos who were able to drop their OCS.
The final race in a falling wind went to Afficianado from best lady Jill Fleming and Conor O'Leary in 44, Perfection and Quickstep III.
In the final line up it was three Royal North of Ireland boats in the top 3 places.
The fleet will compete again next week in The Northern Championships in Killyleagh.
