Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Irish Squib Inland Championship at Lough Derg Yacht Club

by Vincent Delany 15 Oct 04:44 UTC 12-13 October 2024
Irish Squib Inlands at Lough Derg - 'Atomic' Ian Travers leading from 'Durt' 241 Rob Stanley, and 'Quickstep III' 820 Gordon Patterson © Reggie Goodbody

You can tell the health of any keelboat Class by the numbers attending open events. Despite the autumn weather being expected to be cold, forty-four owners packed up their Squib keelboats and towed them to Dromineer on Lough Derg for the Irish Inland Championship.

All the races under PRO, Lt. Cdr. John F. Leech and his team, were windward-leeward races of two laps. For race one, the wind blew from the south-west, with a forecast indicating that it would veer to the north-east, the strength was about 12-14 knots gusting to about 20 knots. On the first lap 'Mucky Duck' sailed by Michael O'Suilleabhain & his dad Michael O'Sullivan (Kinsale YC) led, until, on the second lap 'Quickstep III' helmed by Gordon Patterson & steered by Ross Nolan (R North of Ireland YC) headed hard left into Garraunfada Bay and pulled out a lead to win by 100m.

A line squall took out two Squib masts while the fleet waited for the course to be laid for the second race. The wind increased for race two, and after a false start and a general recall, 'Quickstep III' battled to gain the lead and won from Ian Travers & Keith O'Riordan in 'Atomic' (Kinsale YC).

The competitors were beginning to learn how to deal with the shifty lake winds where 10 degree shifts added to the game! Race three was won by 'Mucky Duck' from Dick and Pamela Batt in the oldest boat of them all, the original 'Squib' (R. Victoria YC).

Chairman of the Irish Squib Class, Travers, authorised the PRO to hold a fourth race as the conditions were ideal. That race was won by 'Mucky Duck' from Sean & his dad Paul Murphy in 'Crackers' (Kinsale YC). In that race 'Quickstep III' collected an OCS penalty.

Overnight 'Mucky Duck' (4 points) which had won the Irish Squib Inland Championship previously under a different owner, was the overall leader from 'Quickstep III' (5 points), 'Crackers'(10 points) and 'Atomic'(11 points). All the tired crews were amply fed and watered in the clubhouse, and again watered until a late hour in the local hostelry, 'The Whisky Still'.

On Sunday the wind had turned 180 degrees and was oscillating from 120 to 145 degrees at 2 to 8 knots, making life difficult for the PRO. Those who took the left-hand side of the first beat past the Corrikeen Islands led the race, but almost ran out of wind at the first windward mark close to Hazel Point, but at the finish it was 'Atomic' ahead of Rob Stanley & Fergus O'Kelly in the infamous 'Durt' (Howth YC) which was displaying an expensive new graphics scheme.

Race six, again in light shifting winds, was won by Mikey & Michael Carroll in 'Klipbok' from Aidan O'Connell & Lauren Donahht in 'Ruby Blue' (R. Irish YC).

In the final race the wind swung back to the east, just before the start, which allowed the Squibs near the pin end of the start line, to tack on the line to almost lay the windward mark. They may have been several noisy port and starboard incidents on the line. That race was won by Robert Marshall & Carl Allen in 'Slipstream' (Killyleagh YC) from Peter Wallace & Martin Weatherstone in 'Toy for The Boys' (R. North of Ireland YC). Vitally, 'Mucky Duck' and 'Quickstep III' were both given 'U' flag disqualifications in that race, 'Quickstep III' scored 27 points due to her carrying a thirteenth place, but still won the event by 2 points from 'Crackers' carrying a nineth place. 'Atomic' in third place was one point behind and carried a 12th place.

In conclusion any of five boats, Nos. 11, 25, 51, 137 or 820 could have won the event. The 45-60 minute races were not enough to separate out the fleet, resulting in four or five boats crossing the finishing line together. In the Hunter Class, Fergal Keating & Dave Maher in 'Bodacious' (Lough Derg YC) were the winners in 23rd. place from Philip Despard & Stephany Gorski in 'Sinbad' (Iniscealtra SC) in 28th. Top lady helm was Geraldine Kiernan in 'Sibu' (Kinsale YC).

Lough Derg Yacht Club's hospitality included chicken curry on Friday evening, coffee and cakes before launching each day and afternoon teas each day. 50 Squibs will be back in June next year for the Irish Squib Championship.

Overall Results:

PosBoat NameSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1Quickstep III820Gordon PattersonRoss NolanRNIYC113(OCS)361327
2Crackers25Sean MurphyPaul MurphyKinsale YC‑1544264929
3Atomic137lan TraversKeith B RiordanKinsale YC6254112(UFD)30
4Mucky Duck51Micheal O'SuilleabhainMichael O'SullivanKinsale YC2711155(UFD)31
5SQUIB11Dick BattPamela BattROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB562812‑13336
6Rubyblue35Aidan OConnellLauren DonahhtRIYC(OCS)12851121149
7Durt241Rob StanleyFergus O'KellyHowth Yacht Club1351314230(RET)50
8Femme Fatale24Vincent DelanyJoe o ByrneLDYC/RStG10810313‑14650
9Kerfuffle37Emmet DaltonFast Neal MerryHowth Yacht Club113126‑1818757
10Dogwatch70Terry RowanRob KerleyRNIYC71171216‑21861
11Volante807Simon WatsonJordy WithersKillyleagh yacht club99‑1616816462
12Granat871David StewartBrain HareRIYC4(OCS)1818581063
13Toy for the Boys818Peter WallaceMartin Weatherstone 16131799‑20266
14Second Chance701Stephen StewartKevin ThomasRNIYC1414‑20114101568
15Klipbok89Mikey CarrollMichael CarrollKinsale YC8191117141‑2070
16Lucky Number906Tom MapplebeckJon McCleanKinsale YC3‑281572027577
17Misfire127David McFarlaneCiaran O FarrellLDYC12169217‑261277
18Slipstream102Robert MarshallCarl AllenKillyleagh yacht club31(OCS)615217181
19Alkypops836Gareth PritchardSteve Panard McQuirkHolyhead Sailing Club1717‑231322111797
20Outlaw LDYC785Tadg MurphyRobert MurphyLDYC1918142019‑2216106
21LONGSHOT781Sean ORiordanPadraig McGillicuddyKinsale Yacht Club2724‑282210923115
22Chilli156Alex MinginovicKarina VoitjuleLDYC182021191723‑27118
23Bodacious391Fergal "Burpees" KeatingDaithi "Engineering" MaherLDYC2310271027‑3330127
24Kookaburra813Joe GilmartinJerry BuckleyLDYC2515(RET)27242519135
25Supersonic94David AdleyPatrick BirdthistleLDYC2023‑2523252424139
26Siadwel878Tudor Robertsleuan Williams ‑36223226231721141
27Archimedes822Ciara McMahonTom McMahonHYC/LDYC3026192429‑3618146
28SINBAD503Philip DespardStefany gorskiISC24‑342232311526150
29Tom Thumb639Olly KierseMark O'SullivanLDYC2225‑3329301925150
30Beeswing232Josh St JohnJayne GraceLDYC2929292526‑3514152
31Bobonski57Craig HughesNoelHolyhead Sailing Club & Lough Derg Yacht2121(DNC)DNC282822165
32Plan B494Pat SalterMatthew Ahern/Avril LysaghtKinsale Yacht Club26‑333030323032180
33Beesknees97Richard CallananFrank McGowanLDYC32352634‑363228187
34Sibu704Geraldine KieranDenis KieranKinsale YC3432‑3631352931192
35Squibble581Nigel RobertsColin BeckIniscealtra Sailing Club3337243333‑3933193
36Adora510Catherine StainesRupert BowenLDYC283134‑36343434195
37Dorado477Patricia GeorgeBilly GeorgeLDYC3530‑3828373135196
38Sidewinder138Roger JonesSara WinwardLDYC37273135‑383829197
39Selik223Tonia McAllisterAnne BarringtonLDYC(OCS)36353739DNC36228
40Eclipse412Thomas LoosDebbie White Kerstin Schattolins Cealtra40383739‑414037231
41Joker504David BrosnahanAnthony ToomeyLDYC38(DNC)DNC38403738236
42 824   39(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC264
43Chillax664LouiseBrid WalshLDYC41(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC266
44Stargazer858Pat CulluloLiam KellyMountshannon(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC270

Related Articles

Squib UK Inlands at Rutland
A healthy 24 boat turnout for the final event of the Squib season The Squib Inlands were once again hosted by Rutland SC over the weekend. The familiarity within the fleet of one of the UK's premier inland waters meant many of the UK's leading teams were competing amongst the healthy 24 boat turnout. Posted on 11 Oct
Early Autumn Select One Design Maximum Discount
Great savings on sails and covers at Hyde Sails, orders must be placed by 30th September Hyde Sails One-Design Sails have had another successful season on the water, we are currently offering a maximum autumn discount period for select classes allowing for great savings on sails and covers. Posted on 27 Sep
Burnham Week overall
Storms and sunshine, heartbreak and mast breaks, parties till dawn Storms and sunshine, heartbreak and mast breaks, parties till dawn, series decided in the last race, a regatta of many firsts - Burnham Week 2024 ended with a bang. Posted on 17 Sep
Squib Irish East Coast Championship
The Royal St George Yacht Club provided great hospitality On Saturday 7 September the weather was not looking promising for the 21 boat fleet of Squibs competing in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council sponsored Irish East Coast Championship. The wind forecast was for 4 knots. Posted on 11 Sep
Squib class at the Waldringfield Cartoon Trophy
Autumn arrived with a bang on Sunday The Waldringfield SC Cartoon open meeting is the end of summer highlight here as we race for a 'Giles' Cartoon. Posted on 10 Sep
Ben McGrane's inside track on the sailing scene
One of Britain's great dinghy sailors keeps his finger on the pulse of many of the UK's big classes One of Britain's great dinghy sailors, who keeps his finger on the pulse of many of the UK's big classes, is Hyde Sails' Ben McGrane. Posted on 6 Sep
Glorious Race Weeks
Bumper participation is an indicator for the health of sailing It would be so easy to write about the Olympics and America's Cup this week in my newsletter but, in all honesty, we're writing and talking enough about those on Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com already. Instead let's focus on Race Weeks. Posted on 3 Sep
Burnham Week 2024 Day 8
Strong winds, high swell and overcast on Trophy Day Strong winds, high swell, overcast and the inaugural edition of the Dinghy Town Cup - the Burnham Week 2024 final day sees David Evans in Hullabaloo win the Town Cup Trophy for the second year in a row. Posted on 2 Sep
Burnham Week 2024 Day 7
Choppy, but sunny and decent breeze and a hard fought battle in the Squib fleet Choppy, but sunny and decent breeze and a hard fought battle in the Squib fleet on the penultimate day of this year's iconic East Coast regatta. Posted on 31 Aug
Burnham Week 2024 Day 6
Sunshine, confused wind, short tacking and a town course Sunshine, confused wind, short tacking, town course and an East Coast One Design being introduced to the proverbial hospitality of the River Crouch's mud, the sixth day of Burnham Week. Posted on 30 Aug
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024