Mayor of County Cork Launches 2022 Squib National Championships at Kinsale Yacht Club

31st May 2022

Kinsale Yacht Club's Ian Travers (Regatta Director), Mayor of County Cork Cllr. Gillian Coughlan and Matthias Hellstern (Commodore Kinsale YC) with the prestigious trophies for June's Squib National Championships Credit: Bob Bateman

The Squib National Championships scheduled for Kinsale Harbour in West Cork next month got a boost on Tuesday when the Mayor of County Cork launched the one design championships that is expected to attract 120 sailors from across Ireland and the UK.

Mayor Cllr Gillian Coughlan joined local business and civic representatives as well as members of the Kinsale Yacht Club at the launch of the Bandon Co-op Squib National Championships at the West Cork clubhouse.

(Above and below) Mayor Cllr Gillian Coughlan with Kinsale Yacht Club members at the launch of the Squib National Championships at the club Photo: Bob Bateman

The joint UK and Irish National Championships will see 60 Squib crews from England, Wales and the Island of Ireland compete for two national champions on the waters South of Kinsale harbour.

Originally scheduled to be sailed in June 2020, the championship was postponed to this year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Vice Commodore Tony Scannell, Anthony O Neill and Chris Clarke of Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Speaking at the launch, regatta director Ian Travers indicated that while the postponement was disappointing, the reschedule appears to have served to increase the anticipation around the event. Kinsale is a world-class destination with its sheltered waters under the lee of the old head of Kinsale which makes for the perfect championship race area. This coupled with the natural beauty of its historic harbour along with everything the town has to offer makes it the jewel of the Irish South coast.

Kinsale Yacht Club Vice Commodore Tony Scannell, Event organiser Ian Travers, Kinsale Yacht Club Master of Ceremonies Tomas O'Brian and Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern Photo: Bob Bateman

In thanking the title sponsor, Travers highlighted how Bandon Co-op is part of the fabric of Kinsale and with its support, the Yacht Club will be able to stage a superb which will bring positive energy to the already bustling seaside town of Kinsale and beyond. He also thanked secondary sponsors for supporting the event which includes Cork County Council, Blacks of Kinsale, the Good Food Circle and CH Marine.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern and Councillor Tim Lombard Photo: Bob Bateman

‘Events like the Bandon Co-op Squib Nationals make Kinsale yacht Club the club that it is and the energy this event will generate will contribute to help make Kinsale the fantastic destination that it is, both on and off the water’.

John O'Gorman of Bandon Co-op Photo: Bob Bateman

The Bandon Co-op Squib National Champions takes place from the 19^th to the 24^{th of} June.

Published in Kinsale, Squib, West Cork

Published in Kinsale

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