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Stewart Brewing Squib UK National Championships 2024 at Royal Forth Yacht Club - Day 2

by Vincent Delany 19 Jun 2024 01:22 PDT 15-21 June 2024
Stewart Brewing Squib UK Nationals at Royal Forth Yacht Club Day 2 © Joe O'Leary

On Tuesday on the Firth of Forth there were thundery conditions with black clouds coming in from the North Sea. PRO Howard Steavenson kept the elite Squib fleet ashore for about an hour due to lack of wind on the Firth.

After that time, he indicated that the Squib fleet could go afloat. However, the little breeze that did exist was quite unstable, initially three knots from the north, and then it swung to the east towards the mouth of the Firth. After waiting about another hour, he signalled that a race could commence, but he pulled the plug when it was evident that the wind strength had dropped to less than four knots.

Eventually, after a general recall the fleet got away in flat water and a variable four knot breeze. Sailmaker, Dick Batt and Pete Richards in 'Squib' led around the windward mark and led for most of the race, however, 'counting chickens' can never be done in the Squib fleet and on the second last beat of the three lap windward-leeward course Rear Commodore of Royal Forth YC, Will Davies and Kevan Gibb in 'Willpower' used their local knowledge to sneak up the Leith shore and, tacking once, came out ahead of 'Squib'. Not only that, but Gordon Patterson and Ross Nolan in 'Quickstep' who had headed out to the middle of the Firth, found more wind there and managed to grab a second place ahead of the oldest Squib of the Fleet 'Squib' which had taken a middling course.

The third race of the series commenced soon afterwards. By this time the easterly wind was less shifty, the ebb tide was stronger, and the wind strength had settled down with about 8 knots. There were tactical choices galore for the Squibs, but it was South Caernarvonshire's Malcolm Blackburn and Steve Allso in 'Moonstone' who had a two-boat lead around the windward mark. This was followed by a long run in lighter airs against a strengthening tide. The whole fleet condensed, with some running direct downwind, some hitting the corners and others gybing their way down the rhumb line. Half way down, and competitors were planning their gate mark rounding, in the expectation that much of the fleet could arrive together. As it turned out, Mark Bradshaw and Robin Jarvis in 'Magic Flute' from the home club rounded the port gate mark first, and sailed in the rain with tell-tales stuck to the sails to take first place of the shortened course from 'Quickstep' and Chris and Gillian Jordan in 'Croc' from Waveney and Oulton Broad YC.

Overall 'Quickstep. Leads from 'Willpower' and 'Ric O'Shea'. Racing continues until Friday.

Results after Day 2:

PosBoat NameSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3Pts
1stQuickstep III820Ross NolanGordon PattersonRoyal North of Ireland YC72211
2ndWillpower832Will DaviesKevan GibbRoyal Forth YC51814
3rdRicO'Shea136Mark HoganTom JeffcoateSouth Caernarvonshire YC141217
4thCroc855Chris JordanGillian JordanWaveney and Oulton Broad YC413320
5thSpoof811Micky WrightAlexandra PorteousRoyal Corinthian YC351624
6thSquib11Dick BattPeter RichardsRoyal Victoria YC232227
7thMoonstone96Malcolm BlackburnSteve AllsoSouth Caernarvonshire YC1611431
8thCrossfire797Patrick WiltonMike TaylorHaven Ports YC188531
9thHarry VI908Mike BuddMark ThompsonSouth Caernarvonshire YC207734
10thMagic Flute805Mark BradshawRobin JarvisRoyal Forth YC1520136
11thKitten85Jamie PopeJames PritchardSouth Caernarvonshire UC823637
12thAlexa444Mike HughesGary CatterallSouth Caernarvonshire YC6221038
13thBy The Lee868Jo TribeJason PhelpsRoyal Corinthian YC9171339
14thWhite Magic828David WinesKeith DaviesRoyal Torbay YC1162340
15thElevation837Robert SmalesPeter WoodHumber Yawl Club1318940
16thLady Penelope819Malcolm HutchingsAndy CarleyRoyal Corinthian YC1491841
17thAlchemy800Gerard DysonTony SaltonstallRoyal Yorkshire YC10102444
18thDiscord91David PinnerJonno BakerHPYC19141447
19thGuy Fawkes72Phillip AspinallFiona HuchisonRoyal Corinthian YC17151547
20thWinkles Retreat881Andrew MoorePeter HallinanFelixtow Ferry Boatyard Ltd21161148
21stFlare67Derek GibbAlistair ReidRoyal Forth YC12192657
22ndDream On789Brian HollandRichard RobertsSouth Caernarvonshire YC25122562
23rdShifts and Giggles848Mark FlynnJonathon BealeRoyal Corinthian YC24261767
24thRiverdance740Malcolm WorsleyDanielle WorsleyRoyal Tay YC22252067
25thDry Run842Charles MortonFiona DrennanRoyal Forth YC23271969
26thFemme Fatale24Vincent DelanyJosh St JohnLough Derg YC & Royal St George YC28212170
27thBlack Pig874Ben LuddongtonBill WrightRoyal Corinthian YC27242980
28thHera158Michal TaskerMarco BauderRoyal Forth YC26292782
29thKachina526James VineerTunca ObuzPortsmouth SC29282885

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