Squib South Coast Championships

Submitted by she on Wed, 06/10/2010 - 00:24

aproaching_mark_3_race_3 WSC hosted the Squib South Coast Championships over the weekend of the 18th/19th September with 31 visitors and 23 local Squibs taking part, including 9 of the first 11 at this year's National Championships in Ireland.  In contrast to the Weymouth traffic chaos, Alan McDine's planning, two cranes and plenty of helpers launched all the visitors on Friday afternoon with time to spare, and they were towed to their berths in the Cove by the club rib.   

squibs_in_harbour_2On Saturday morning the fleet were released at 1000 but the light northerly was too shifty for Race Officer Adrian Patterson to set a beat.  By 1300 the wind had settled in the west and with so much time lost the black flag was soon on display.  Two of the three scheduled races were completed, with Alan Johnson in Nimbus getting two 1sts, Ghost Rider (Mike and Penny Fenwick) notching up two 2nds, and Longshot (Jim Chalmers and Bryan Adams) a 10th.

 

In the evening more than ninety sat down to an excellent championship dinner at the club superbly orchestrated by Deo McDine.  The presentation of the 'Dick of the Day' coat went to Alan Johnson for capsizing his Squib and trailer outside the Duke of Cornwall pub on Wednesday night while confused by Weymouth's wonderful new traffic arrangements.  Luckily a band of willing patrons set the trailer back on its wheels and Alan was able to tow his now less than perfect Squib and bent trailer back north and return with his spare boat 'Nimbus' on Friday.
squb_alternative_boat_showSunday's 3 races were sailed in a westerly 5/6 which certainly tested my resolve,  Dave Best and Peter Richards in Crossfire won all three races, taking the championship and rewarding his persistance and determination.  Ghost Rider managed another second but slipped to third overall, and the next WSC boat overall was Saskia V (Mark and Rima) in 20th place.
Most of the visiting Squibs were back on their trailers by 1800 but, because of the single track road from the club, re-uniting them with their cars took a little bit longer. 
A great weekend enjoyed by visitors and members alike.
Simon Vines