Year of Design: 1967
Length Overall: 19 ft (5.8 m
Length Waterline: 17 ft (5.2 m)
Beam: 6.17 ft (1.9 m)
Draft: 3.25 ft (1.0 m)
Weight: 680 kg
Upwind Sail Area: 15.8 sq m
Downwind Sail Area: 29 sq m
The National Squib is a distinctive racing keelboat with mace-coloured sails, designed in 1967 by Oliver Lee. It is a strict “one-design” class of boat, big enough to sail at sea, but small enough to be trailed easily behind a family car.
Squibs are generally raced by two people: the crew is in control of the jib and the spinnaker, and the helm has control of where the boat goes and the main sail. They are easy boats to sail but hard to sail well. Squibs are suitable as training boats, but they also enjoy close, competitive, one-design racing. A recent review published in Yachts & Yachting magazine gives good insights into the boat, and its current status in the UK and elsewhere. The UK class association website has lots more information on the Squib, and has especially useful tuning information for those owners and crew who might want to go that bit quicker!
The Squib has been adopted by the RYA as the National Keelboat. It is a perfect racing and training boat for the Mersey Estuary. We run frequent races for the RMYC Squib fleet through the season, as well as using the boats for training (see our Keelboat Sailing Course for details). If you would like to join our Squib fleet or access more information, please contact the club using the form below.
