The annual Squires Cup race has been running almost continuously for more than 70 years. This year's event is being run by Starcross YC on Sunday 5th July with the start at 10:00. A more recently established event for catamarans is also being run at the same time - for the eponymously named Catamaran Cup. Both races are open to current members from sailing clubs on the Exe Estuary.
You can enter this event as follows:
SYC members - on the day of the event using the normal sign on system in the members room
Members of OTHER Exe Clubs - use the online entry application at least an hour before the scheduled start.
Online Entry - click here . Brief instructions on how to enter are in this guide.
The information of interest to competitors follows...
The Sailing Instructions for the event will be the Starcross YC Club Racing Sailing Instructions - with the following amendment.
Amendment to Sailing Instruction 6.1: Eligibility (following words to be appended)
The Squires Cup and Catamaran Cup races are open to current members of Exe SC, Lympstone SC and Topsham YC. and if winners, they will be eligible to receive the relevant trophies.
Eligible Classes:
To be eligible for the Squires Cup dinghies should be monohull, non-foiling and have an RYA PN handicap number in the range 799 to 1445. The Catamaran Cup is open to all catamarans with a published RYA PN.
Signals:
All signals will be made from the club flagpole at SYC. The following signals will be made with lights.
| Warning Signal | - | coloured flashing light at 6 minutes to start (yellow: Squires Cup, green: Catamaran Cup) |
| Preparatory Signal | - | coloured continuous light at 3 minutes to start |
| Start | - | coloured light is extinguished |
| OCS | - | amber strobe light flashing |
| General Recall | - | red strobe light flashing |
| Shorten course | - | amber strobe light flashing |
| Race Abandoned | - | red strobe light flashing |
| Race Postponed | - | amber strobe light flashing |
All light signals will be accompanied by a sound signal. Other signals defined in the RRS (e.g. change of course) will be made with flags
Course Area and Courses:
The course area will be the Exe Estuary - south of navigation buoy 20 and north of navigation buoy 18. Turning marks will be either navigation buoys or cylindrical inflatable buoys. The chart of buoy locations is available HERE
The course will be indicated using the SYC course board which is described HERE. The course on the top row will be for the Squires Cup fleet and will be labelled "DINGHY". The course on the bottom row will be for the Catamaran Cup fleet and will be labelled "CATS".
Start Sequence
The Squires Cup dinghy fleet will be the first start (6-3-0 lights sequence). The Catamaran Cup fleet will start 3 minutes after the Squires Cup fleet. In the event of a General Recall the recalled fleet will restart after the initial start sequence using the yellow start light (6-3-0) .
Start Line
The start line will normally be the Club Line (indicated with an "L" on the course board) which is formed by a transit between the club flag pole and an orange/white transit pole on the shore line adjacent to the club house. The outer limit for the start line is navigation buoy 29.
Alternatively a Special Start Line may be used (indicated with an "S" on the course board) which is formed by a transit between the club flag pole and an orange/white transit pole on the shore line adjacent to the club house. The outer limit for the start line is a spherical red inflatable buoy
Finish Line:
The finish line will always be the line between the club flagpole and navigation buoy 29.
Scoring
The race positions for both the Squires Cup and Catamaran Cup will be scored using the Portsmouth Handicap system with average lap scoring. The fastest boats will typically do more laps than the slower boats. Boats finishing will be signalled with a sound signal.
If you have any questions about this race please contact the Sailing Secretary