Northern Ireland Squib Championships at RNIYC
by Nigel Kearney 8 Jun 2009 15:05 BST
30-31 May 2009
Summer finally arrived on Belfast Lough just in time for the Squib Northern Ireland Championships, sponsored by the North Down Tourism and hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - champagne sailing conditions throughout the weekend with 12 to 20 knots of breeze and bright sunshine for the nineteen boats who took the starting gun with visitors from Royal St. George, Quoile and Howth Yacht Clubs joining the 12 local boats.
Just before the start of the first race the wind dropped from 12 to about 7 knots making it difficult to get away but defending champion, John Driscoll, sailing Afficionado 78 with Dave Cagney, was fast out of the blocks and led for the first lap of the windward / leeward course. On the second beat, they chose the right hand side while Femme Fatale 24 [Vincent Delaney and Noel Colclough] found fresher breeze and a nice left shift on the left side to take control.
Race two saw more wind with gusts up to twenty knots. This time, Afficionado made no mistakes, leading from start to finish despite a similar attack from the left, this time led by Inshalla 139 [David Eccles and Phil Hutchinson] who finished second ahead of Emmet Dalton and Emer Harte in Klipbok 89 with Toys claiming another fourth.
Race 3 saw a course change with the mean wind shifting 15 degrees to the left. John and ‘Cags’ strengthened their position with another flag to flag win but the competition was hot behind them with some great private battles going on right through the fleet. A new face appeared on the podium in the shape of Frank Whelan and Brian O’Hara [Deadly Buzz 770] just pipping Klipbok and Femme Fatale with Jonny Millar and Sally Watson [High Flyer 747] justifying their new sails with 5th place.
Everyone went ashore, tired but happy to enjoy a few refreshing drinks on the lawn in front of the club house before a quick freshen up and back for the evening buffet and dancing.
There must have been a few aggression pills popped into the breakfast tea on Sunday morning as loads of boats pushed the line in race 4 resulting in a general recall. PRO Neale McCullough came straight out with the black flag and the race got away in a lovely 15 knot easterly breeze. Afficianado sealed the championship with another bullet followed by the very consistent Toy for the Boys in 2nd.
The final race was an interesting affair as most of the fleet rock hopped up the shore trying to avoid the building flood tide. This resulted in lots of tacking, dipping and general verbal kicking, gouging and shouting which could be heard from the committee boat half a mile away. No damage was inflicted and the only consequence was more fantastic racing with issues being resolved right through the fleet.
Toys finished the event with a deserving win followed by Femme Fatale, Afficianado and Allegro 124 [Andrew and Jonathon McCluggage] who capped a consistent performance with 4th place.
Another early finish and back ashore to enjoy the Jazz event on the grass outside the club while waiting for the tide to come in to recover the visiting boats. All in all it was a successful event, in part due to the fabulous weather but made possible by all the helpers both on the water and ashore. Everyone agreed it doesn’t get much better than this!
Results
1 - Afficianado 78 - RNIYC - John Driscoll & David Cagney - 5.25pts
2 - Toy for the Boys 818 - RNIYC - Peter Wallace & Sian McCleave - 10.75pts
3 - Femme Fatale 24 - RStGYC - Vincent Delaney & Noel Colclough - 16.75pts
4 - Klipbok 89 - HYC - Emmet Dalton & Emer Harte - 19pts
5 - Allegro 134 - RNIYC - Andrew & Jonathan McCluggage - 24pts
6 - Inshallah 139 - RNIYC - David Eccles & Phil Hutchinson - 25pts
7 - Deadly Buzz 770 - RStGYC - Frank Whelan & Brian O'Hara - 25pts
8 - Terpsichore 144 - QYC - Julian Sandford & Hammy Baker - 25pts
9 - Fantome 730 - HYC - Ronan MacDonell & Gordon Hudson - 30pts
10 - Halloween 148 - RNIYC - Fred Campbell & Al Boston - 36pts
11 - Joint Venture 64 - RNIYC - Mike Vaughan & Gavin Vaughan - 38pts
12 - High Flyer 747 - RNIYC - Jonnie Millar & Sally Watson - 38pts
13 - Nimrod 666 - QYC - Warren Fannon & Graham Dickson - 41pts
14 - Fat Boat Slim 799 - RNIYC - Wyatt Wright & Simon Revell - 45pts
15 - Born Wild 795 - RNIYC - Jack Anderson & Alex Anderson - 47pts
16 - Conquest 786 - RNIYC - Leandre McCollum & Magnus Ramsey - 56pts
17 - Contender 70 - RNIYC - Denis Todd & Michael Gilmore - 58pts
18 - Where's Woolly? 716 - RStGYC - Conor O'Leary & Lesley Kirk - 65pts
19 - Moondance 825 - RNIYC - Stephen Dobbs & Nick Butler - 71pts
