It is a long way to Tipperary and Lough Derg Yacht Club at Dromineer from the Squib strongholds on Belfast and Strangford Loughs in the North.
Dromineer lies on the shores of Lough Derg, on the River Shannon and 10km north of Nenagh.
Not to be deterred, at least seven Northern Squib owners will trail the 200 miles to the Freshwater One Design Regatta from 14th to 16th of October.
From Killyleagh on Strangford Lough and leading the charge will be the Irish Class Chairman, Robert Marshall with Slipstream, Simon Watson’s Volante and Stephen Bridges in Firecracker. From Royal North on Belfast Lough, last year’s winner Gordon Patterson will no doubt try to hold on to the top slot in Fegan: In Toy for the Boys is Peter Wallace, Stephen Stewart in Second Chance and Dot’s Boat sailed by Terry Rowan.
Robert Marshall is looking forward to the competition: “I’m hoping for a big entry for the last regional event of the year and seeing boats from England and Wales in Dromineer. The Commodore of LDYC, Joe Gilmartin, no doubt will provide top-class racing and social events”.
The new Squib trophy to be presented at Lough Derg
So who will claim the brand new Irish Squib Class perpetual trophy that will be presented to this year’s victorious Squib?
Bryan Willis and John McPeake (4074) at the Northern FF championships Photo Kathryn Anderson
Another Northern entrant, but this time in a Flying Fifteen will be Bryan Willis in Simply Gold from County Antrim Yacht Club on Belfast Lough. He had a mixed season he said: “We were second in the Northerns at my home club and expect strong competition in this event. As far as I am aware, we are the only Northern Flying Fifteen entry, but perhaps there’ll be more before entries close on Wednesday 12th “.
