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Irish Squib Nationals at Royal North of Ireland YC - Preview

by Nigel Carson
31 July - 2 August 2010

Once again after a break of 4 years the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club at Cultra hosts the Irish National Squib Championships this weekend from 31 July to 2 August. Sponsored by North Down Borough Council Tourism and 3FiveTwo Healthcare this is always a must do event on the sailing calendar for Squib owners North and South.

These distinctive two man (and often woman) keelboats with their red sails and bright spinnakers always make a colourful spectacle as almost thirty entrants battle against each other over three days of closely fought one design racing.

The Championship is decided over 7 races each one lasting up to two hours and since the race area is seldom far off the North Down shore at Cultra the tacks, gybes, successes and mistakes are easily visible for spectators to follow the action.

Last year the event was held at Quoile Yacht Club and the winner was John Driscoll from Royal North. This year it's the turn of the Cultra club to host again and the visiting boats from Howth, Royal St George's in Dublin, Killyleagh and the Quoile will be determined to prevail. But as in previous years we also have more than our fair share of sailors who can, and do, compete at this level and are capable of winning to keep honours in North Down.

But of course no quarter is given between clubmates either and every tactic is deployed, within the rules of course, to outwit and outmanouvre the competition to take the hooter as the finish line is crossed.

This is an event which is ideally suited to the North Down coastline and Belfast Lough but brings in many visitors who not only appreciate the scenery and sailing environment but come for the hospitality of the Club and the Holywood area. A fair wind and some sunshine will help to make this another successful sailing event.

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