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

Stewart Brewing Squib UK Nationals at Royal Forth Yacht Club Day 2 © Joe O'Leary

Stewart Brewing Squib UK Nationals at Royal Forth Yacht Club Day 2 © Anthony Money

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.

Stewart Brewing Squib UK Nationals at Royal Forth Yacht Club Day 2 - photo © Joe O'Leary

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: