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PREVIEW OF THE ERIC CAIRNS PARTNERSHIP

IRISH SQUIB CHAMPIONSHIP

On the weekend of the 30 July, boats from all over Ireland will take part in the Eric Cairns Partnership Irish Squib Championship which is being hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Cultra.

Whilst most of the competitors will be from clubs around Belfast Lough, entrants are also travelling from the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and Howth Yacht Club.

Judging by performances in the National Championship in June and the Northern Ireland Championship earlier in the year the fight for the Irish title will be a closely fought battle with several boats in contention.

Simon Brien, on board KIN, has raced for several years in the Squib fleet at RNIYC and has many titles to his name.  Unfortunately, Simon has not been able to compete in any of the events running up to this month’s clash due to his other sailing commitments.  However, stunning form in club racing means that he is surely where the smart money must lie.  

Greg Bell and Leah McCleave, sailing FAGIN, will be out to defend the Irish title which they secured in Howth last year. There is no doubt that this boat has shown blistering pace in the run up to the event.  They must also be due some luck after two OCSs in the final day of racing in the Northern Ireland Championship put paid to their chances of picking up the trophy for the second time.

Peter Wallace and Michael Wright in TOY FOR THE BOYS showed glimmers of excellence in last month’s National Championship securing a 2nd, and two 4ths.  The boys will surely be out to show that they have the consistency required to win a national event.

After winning the Northern Ireland Championship in June, Aidan O’Connell and Sian McCleave in BLUE shocked themselves with a race win in the National Championship.  This crew will definitely be looking to make an impression on the event.

Ruan O’Tiarnaigh and Andrew Vaughan in Gordon Patterson’s SEVEN OF NINE are also a boat to keep an eye on. Whilst Ruan has not been a regular in the squib this year there is little doubt that he has the calibre to win the Irish Championship.

Other leading contenders include Mervyn Gilfillan’s AFICIONADO and Gerry Reid’s TAI PAN. Mervyn will have former Olympic sailor John Driscoll at the helm and will be hoping to emulate past success with Peter Kennedy.  Tai Pan, the 2004 RNIYC Points winner will be helmed by Laser 2 ace Michael Ennis.

Whilst many competitors in this event will have sailed squibs for several seasons, there are quite a number for whom this will be their first National Championship.  This can only be great news for the class which has seen at least three new fleets being established on the island in the past year.

June’s Airtricity National Championship attracted 82 boats, one of the largest turnouts in a one design Championship this year.