30 visiting Squibs joined the Weymouth Sailing Club fleet to compete in the Squib South Coast Championships 2013. The fleet of 44 boats enjoyed a superb two days of sailing in a weekend that suddenly turned from late summer into blustery autumn.
Saturday saw three races in force 4 northerly winds dropping back slightly as the afternoon progressed. In discussions in the clubroom after racing the same phrases were being repeated; ‘fluky’, ‘shifting’, ‘pressure under the black clouds’, ‘interesting sailing’ - the race team recorded 30 degree shifts - but despite the erratic conditions, as you would expect the top sailors succeeded in getting to the front of the fleet. Race Office Adrian Patterson set a .8 mile first leg, a triangle/ sausage course with three windward beats. After a predictable general recall the race officer resorted to black flag to get Race 1 away. Mickey Wright and Chris Dunn in 811 Spoof from RCYC Burnham on Crouch took the honours, with local boat 758 Ghost Rider with Mike Fenwick and Nick Frampton in second place. Race 2 was windward/leewards and leading the fleet at the finish were Martin and Anne Harrison from RVYC in 500 Hussar. Who says that the middle numbers are slow? Well done to Hussar. 754 Mayhem from South Caernarvonshire with Steve Allso and Glenn Pritchard followed Hussar across the line. Race 3 reverted to triangle/sausage with only one black flag casualty Bacchante VII with Roly Wilson and Alex Porteus. This time it was RYYC Pani Munta with Mike Probert and Melanie Titmus who took first place. Alan Johnson with Mark Thompson in South Caernarvonshire 132 Cariah Bach came second. So ended the first day, with nine different boats in the top three places and everything still to play for.
Weymouth Sailing Club hosted a championship dinner in the evening organised by Weymouth Squib class captain Alan McDine and Deo McDine. We normally see Deo on the water in Posh Totty but this year she handed over her position at the front of boat to daughter Sandra. Jez Rees, Vice-Commodore of WSC was guest of honour at the dinner with wife Paula. He welcomed the Squib fleet in the year that the club is celebrating its centenary and emphasised the importance of the National One-design Squib fleet to the club’s racing.
Sunday morning and the weather forecast was on everyone’s mind. All weather stations were predicting strong winds arriving from the west during the day – but the timing was not at all certain. The fleet took to the water in winds of over 20 knots from WSW. The race officer set windward/leeward course – three legs – and achieved a good split downwind leg. Weymouth sailing at its best. As the wind gathered strength reaching an average 24 knots with 32 knot gusts, the downwind leg saw surfing comparable to anything the America’s Cup can produce and squeals of pure adrenalin from your correspondent’s boat. Helmut Shoing II from RCYC with Nigel Grogan and Jack Grogan led the fleet and came across the finish in first position followed by lady helm Jo Downer and Mark Downer from RVYC 626 Panther III. The Race Officer attempted to reset the line for a second race but the forecasts proved to be correct and with wind speeds rapidly rising, a decision was made to call it a day - unfortunate for the two boats who had foregone Race 4 for a black flag infringement, Pani Munta and Aquabat. Mike Probert had hung off the back of the committee boat waiting for the second race and conceded that they had been well treated to coffee and biscuits from the race team.
The lift-out was achieved with minimum fuss and bother and the crews took refuge in the sanctuary of the club for refreshments and prizegiving. Dave Dunn, Chairman of the Organising Committee and WSC Squib class vice-captain thanked the helpers; RIB drivers Euan McNair and Andy Young, Ray and Lynn Capp for the use of committee boat Crystella, race team Peter and Catherine Jacobs and finally Race Officer Adrian Patterson. Championship trophies were awarded by Deo McDine: First boat in the 400-599 numbers, 500 Hussar with Martin and Anne Harrison, first boat in the 200-399 numbers 337 Dynamite with Terence Stevens and Chris Wallis, first Weymouth boat not being featured elsewhere 604 Speculator with Paul Withers and Alan Tyler, first Weymouth boat Ghost Rider with Mike Fenwick and Nick Frampton received a new trophy donated by Simon Vines, WSC Sailing Secretary and Jill Vines - the WSC Centenary Trophy a beautiful piece of marquetry of a Squib boat, first lady helm was Jo Downer in Panther III, 5th boat overall Mayhem with Steve Allso and Glenn Pritchard, 4th overall Pani Munta with Mike Probert and Melanie Titmus, 3rd boat overall Lady Penelope with Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey, 2nd boat overall Spoof with Micky Wright and Chris Dunn. Overall winner was Cariad Bach with Alan Johnson and Mark Thompson. Alan took to the microphone to thank the organising committee and in particular the race team and volunteers for their hard work in the RIBs in challenging conditions. He said that he had enjoyed good racing and a good meal and in a post-competition conversation said that he had ‘loved the long legs and it was well worth coming down from Wigan’.
Submitted on 17th September 2013