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NATIONAL SQUIB CLASS
While the UK fleets expanded, interest began to spread abroad. A couple of Squibs went to Tortola as day charter boats and a fleet grew there. Other groups grew in South Africa, Greece, Germany and Australia. Many of these boats were either club owned, operated on charter or were used by sailing schools. By 1974 numbers had approached the 400 mark, despite growing economic gloom. That November an event called the Squib Symposium was dreamed up by Simon Fraser, and the country's leading yachting journalists came to Burnham on Crouch to race Squibs against one another. The resulting press comment further enhanced the Squib's reputation as did the Design Centre's decision to put the Squib on its index of selected designs.
Until his death in 1993 Oliver Lee was the sole licenced builder of Squibs. The licence lapsed on his death and in 1994 it was granted to Barker Brewer Boats Ltd who relinquished it in 1996 after having built 12 Squibs. In 1997 the licence was granted to Parker Sailboats, whose first Squib, No. 783, was sailed to great acclaim in the 1997 Inland Championship. Specifications
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This information provided courtesy of the National Squib Owners Association. www.squibs.co.uk |
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The Squib was
designed in 1967 by Oliver Lee as a successor to his Ajax 23. The prototype was
built in cold moulded wood and sailed extensively over the winter of 1967-68.
After successful proving trials she was used as a plug and the first GRP Squib
was launched in June 1968. By the end of that year there were six Squibs racing
on the Crouch and they had grown into a substantial fleet by 1969 with new
fleets forming at Waldringfield, Brixham, Abersoch and Aldeburgh. At the
Yachting World Keelboat Rally held in 1969, the Squib was pronounced to be the
most interesting entry. When numbers passed 300 in 1972 the Squib was granted
National status.
The Class
has now spread to all parts of the British Isles, where there are 27 active
racing fleets, several of which muster more than 20 boats. The most recent
fleets have formed in Plymouth (Royal Western YC), Edinburgh (Royal Forth YC)
and on the Solent (Royal Victoria YC). Over 770 Squibs have been built and the
National Squib Owners' Association has over 620 members. A National Championship
has been held at a different venue every year since 1972. In 1996 it was held at
Howth with a record entry of 100 boats. A Match Racing Championship which was
instituted in 1988 was held at Howth in 1997. In 1995 Rutland SC instituted an
Inland Championship which attracted 34 entries and proved so popular that it was
held again in 1996 and again in 1997 when in attracted 47 entries. Squibs race
as a class in Aldeburgh Week, Bridlington Week, Burnham Week, Cowes Week,
Holyhead Week, Lowestoft Week, Medway Week, Menai Strait Fortnight, Oulton Week,
Tay Week and other local regattas and open meetings. Squibs also take part in
handicap racing with a Portsmouth Yardstick of 115.