Irish Squib Southern Championship at Cove Sailing Club

Allegro wins the Squib Irish Southern Championships at Cove Sailing Club © CSC

DURT, the €400 Squib promoting sailing on a budget, finishes 5th in the Squib Irish Southern Championships at Cove Sailing Club © CSC

On arrival the sky was looking pensive, like it didn't know it wanted - to blow old boots, rain, or just look a bit feisty for the competitors that made the journey to Cobh.

A lower than usual turnout, but that is to be expected in the circumstances, but non-the-less still 12 Squibs turned out to be greeted by what Cobh had to offer. Notable absentee Emmet Dalton in Kerfuffle couldn't make it down this weekend, maybe next time!

Race 1 got away swiftly on time at 11.55, In a light SW breeze of about 6/7 knots, Allegro, Fagin, Slipstream, Toy For The Boys and Durt, were hot out the blocks showing no signs of rust from a 10 month break, the fleet split all over this course as it was hard to read tide and wind, going left into the tide paid marginally to see Toy round first, followed by Fagin, Slipsteam and then Allegro, the order never really changed to the finish and Toy managed to pull out a good lead from the front to finish, Toy, Fagin, Allego and slipstream.

Race 2 was promptly started, in a similar breeze, committee boat end favoured this time and saw Allego stretch her legs to the front, closely followed by, Outlaw, Fagin, Flora and local boat under new ownership Fuggles.

The course was challenging with the light shifting breeze and tide, Toy managed to come back from a terrible start, but it wasn't enough to catch the leaders, Allegro extended her lead and took line honours, with a close finish for 2nd 3rd and 4th, with Outlaw just taking second and Toy managing to just nip infront of Fagin for 3rd.

Race 3 was again started promptly in a slightly increased breeze from the SW, this was the first general recall of the day for the 3rd race, we were again promptly turned around and the second start got underway, this saw crews hiking over the side for a short time, Left was the way go again into the tide and saw Toy and Outlaw round the top mark together followed by Allegro and Fagin, 3 hard fought laps in a changing breeze saw Allegro and Outlaw make the most of it, Toy and Fagin were trying to claw there way back into it, but to no avail, it finished Allegro, Outlaw, Toy & Fagin.

After the fun and frivolities of Saturday night at the Quay Restaurant where the Squib dinner was held, it was back to business on the water Toy and Fagin looking to knock Allegro off the top spot! So all to play for.

On Sunday Race 4, started off in a SW 10 to 12 knot breeze, from the start 5 boats made there intentions know, Fagin was hot out the blocks closely followed by Allegro, Toy, Durt and Slipstream. The fleet slip down the first run, Allegro and Outlaw opted to go inshore out the tide and this paid dividends and allowed Allegro build a healthy lead and not look back despite Fagin and Toy in hot pursuit! The race finished Allegro, Fagin, Toy and Slipstream who sailed a great race showing good boat speed.

Race 5, was started promptly! In a SW 15 knot breeze and it was a pile in at the windward mark with 5/6 boats all coming in a once, Fagin made it round first closely followed by Allegro, Outlaw, Toy, Durt and Slipstream. There was some good downwind sections in the building breeze and sea, Fagin had the rope between there teeth in this one, and sailed a solid and calculated race, closely followed by Allegro and Toy, Durt sailed a great last race to bring her home in 4th. The €400 special.

A big thank you to Cove Sailing Club for a great, well organised event! We will definitely be back.

Overall Results: