As the 18 squibs gathered for the briefing of the Haymans of London sponsored 2026 Squib Gold Cup hosted at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, the wind was light and patchy and very sensibly the Race Officer decided to postpone a few hours in hope that a sea breeze would come in. Some decided to fettle their boats, check sails or just a grab a drink/bite to eat on the Royal Corinthian’s sunny balcony during this time but just before 2pm the fleet were on the water and following Team Phoebe to the race course.

Starting on the top of the tide and with a foul tide run to content with, it was difficult racing but Jack Grogan and Chris Agar in Budgies Tongue made it look easy avoiding the melee behind them and bagging 3 firsts across the 4 races achieved on Saturday. Many were caught up either in battles round marks, doing 360s/720s, avoiding the mud (not always successfully) and trying to find clean wind in less tide! Whilst no general recalls (a surprise to many – the squibs are not known for being that well behaved), it was close and competitive throughout with 9 boats finishing within 30 seconds of each other in the second race and numerous position changes during the each of the races. The final race of the day was won by Dark and Stormy (Chip Cole & David Smith) having shaken off their short sojourn on the mud the previous race to come back fighting.

Thankfully the tide had turned and nav lights not required for the fleet returning to the club. Tapas was provided by the superb team at the RCYC and drinks flowed to top up the energy ready for a night of dancing to local band, JDS. At the end of the day it was Budgies Tongue followed by the consistent Whats the Story (Nic Tolhurst and Ross Corbett) ahead of Spoof (Micky Wright and Alex Porteous) however many were close behind and it was definitely all to play for with the 1 discard kicking in after the 6th race.

Sunday and the race officer took us just beyond Pinto for the remaining 4 races of the series. Again we had the tide with us on the beat though we were heading in the opposite direction so at least some different landscape and less option to go find the edges to avoid the tide (& the mud). Initially it looked like a continuation of the day before with Budgies Tongue taking the first win however that was their only win of the day with different winners each of the next 3 races – Spoof edged them on the 6th race (by just one second), What’s the Story took the 7th ahead of Rojo (Jo Tribe and Richard Tucker) and Lady Penelope (Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Carley) coming through from 3rd place at the last mark to 1st in the last race.

So whilst it was pretty clear to all who had won the Gold Cup, the results as to the remaining positions and the results of the Silver Cup handicap series were still a mystery to the fleet who had the joys of a very long beat back to the moorings in a dying breeze. Those on the balcony had a front row seat to the spectacle that was coming to the moorings for these very weary fleet!

Overall winners were Jack and Chris in Budgies Tongue, second were Micky and Alex in Spoof narrowly staying ahead of Nic and Ross in Whats the Story on count back. Winner of the Silver Cup handicap series (a new initiative this year in Burnham where a boat’s handicap changes according to their position each race) was Duncan Grindley and Julia Batchelor in Surprise. Prizes were provided by Haymans of London and very well received by the crews (many having sampled the gin over the weekend!)

A huge thanks to Team Phoebe led by Edwin Buckley, all the team at the RCYC, our sponsors Haymans Gin and Carl Anderson, Burnham Squib Captain for organising a great event!

Next up is the Squib East Coasts hosted by the Royal Burnham Yacht Club on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th May (still time to enter for what is expected to be a very competitive event!) and the second part to this year’s Squib Mayhem! Let’s hope it’s more of the same – sunshine, socials and champagne sailing!!

Photos by Roger Mant

Please click the link below to see the article in Yachts and Yachting.

https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/295810/2026-Squib-Gold-Cup-at-Burnham-on-Crouch