Robert Coyle wins Squibs @ BW2016 6 Sep 2016

The Squib Fleet had a great Burnham Week, both on and off the water. There was a variety of breeze with the strongest winds on the first and last Saturday. Mid week conditions were characterised by light airs but lots of sunshine.

With 21 boats entered for the Bank Holiday weekend it was by far the biggest Fleet at the regatta. Robert Coyle, Humphrey, with Marc Rawinsky crewing at the weekends and Tracy for the midweek, had a clean sweep winning all the major trophies – the Bank Holiday Weekend, the Midweek, the final Saturday Trophy race and the Cup for overall winner on week's points. Robert also took the JCC Award for the Helmsman of the Week across all fleets.

However, it wasn’t easy for Robert. The first weekend was dominated by Humphrey and By The Lee (Nic Tolhurst) who had consistent results on all three days. The final result was decided on countback with Robert winning the David Eagling Memorial Trophy and Nic Tolhurst squeezed into runners up position and picking up the Brian Waples Memorial Tray. The mid-week trophy was also closely contended. The first race was won by Cheque Mate helmed by John Torrance who usually reserves his Squib sailing to Wednesday nights. Other race winners were Humphrey (this time crewed by Tracy Coyle), Lady Penelope (Malcy and Jackie Hutchings) and Spoof (Micky Wright and Gina Ramsey), but it was Humphrey that took the honours and the Paul Tucker Tiller, Lady P were runner up taking the Randy Robber Cup, and Spoof in third place. Only two points separated first, second and third.

Lady Penelope won the Friday Race, the Duerr Trophy, by a margin of 70 seconds. Traditionally the winning margin is the length of the winners speech at the Class Dinner but Malcolm delegated this honour to Jackie who recited some poetry and then challenged the audience to translate the Essex nautical slang.

There was close racing across the whole fleet and the added competition for the bottle of champagne for the first lady in each of the midweek races – no boat (or person) to win it twice.

There seemed to be a different party each evening with cocktail parties, a paella night and a cruise to Fambridge in the dark culminating in a well attended Class Dinner on Friday evening.