T
his distinctive 19t keelboat
remains one of the most
popular classes, with leets
at more than two dozen
clubs across the whole of
the UK and Ireland. Turnouts at class
events are consistently high and the
leet has a well deserved reputation as
being very sociable and welcoming.
It is also oten the second most
numerous class at Lendy Cowes Week,
behind the XOD leet. However, that is
set to change this year, with the class’s
national championship being held
during the regatta and the inal
numbers expected to reach 100.
he Squib was designed
by Oliver J Lee in 1967 and
proved to be an immediate
success. At the time itwas a state of the art design, with
a low-centre of gravity keel, with a
short fore and at cord length for that
era, plus a high aspect ratio rudder
set well at. Flat at sections promote
suring in moderate conditions.
he boat’s light displacement – it
weighs the same as an SB20 – ofered
good light weather
performance and allowed
it to be towed on a braked
trailer by most cars. Heavy
weather performance is
also good – the 50 per
cent ballast ratio, with
much of that weight
in a bulb at the
bottom of the keel, gives
the ability to keep racing
even in a Force 6-7.July 2018 Yachts & Yachting 63