#DBSC - Sixteen Flying Fifteens turned out on another sunny Saturday afternoon on 4 June for two races in the DBSC Series, writes our Flying Fifteen correspondent
And it can be confirmed that rumours of Gorman and Doorly's demise after last week's results are very much exaggerated as they were in great form on 'Betty', winning both races to lead the DBSC series from Mulvin/Beirne and Mathews/Poole.
In a light east-northeast breeze with strong ebbing tide, Race 1 eventually got going following a long postponement after the cruiser boats all came sailing through the start area, a dangerous situation to say the least.
The pin was slightly biased but it was hard to decide which way to go for the wind. Ryan, Colin, and Gorman all kept going left; Mathews cut back across to the right, as did Mulvin. The further the boats on the left went out the more breeze they picked up and they had a good lead approaching the weather mark. Colin and Ryan seemed to be ahead and tacked for the mark as Gorman approached on port.
It's moments like this that races are won and lost. Would they just dip the guys and stay third or tack below them?
With the knowledge that the tide was pushing the boats away from the mark they tacked under them and made it by a boat length, it was a lead they were not to lose despite the confusion of the gate being lifted as they approached the finish, a SB20 had apparently crashed into it. Colin, sailing his new boat Deranged was a close second.
Meanwhile back a bit, Mulvin caught Ryan downwind to finish third and Balfe and son were sailing very well to finish fifth, followed closely by Mathews as well as Mitchel and Greer.
It was similar conditions for Race 2. The winds were shifty but the committee boat was more biased. The individual recall flag went up but not many went back (they would find out later who they were).
Gorman was tuned into the shifts and the breeze and reached the weather mark just ahead of O’Neill and MJ Mulligan with Mulvin, Mathews and Ryan/McAree all close behind.
O’Neill lost out to Ryan and Mulvin but he was sailing well and on the second beat had got back to second place. Mulvin was third, Mathews fourth and Balfe and Son fifth again, with O’Sullivan and Ken Ryan next.
The winds were starting to fade on round 3 but this is how it stayed. O’Neill was deemed to be on course side so Gorman won with Mulvin second, Mathews third and Ryan fourth. Behind the racing was also very close with boats finishing within seconds of each other.
Thanks to the PRO and his team who did a good job on the day. Tom Murphy sported the yellow spinnaker and true to form they stayed in the peloton. Next up with the yellow spinnaker, after all the club regattas, will be Gorman and Doorly.
The DBSC series continues this Thursday 9 June.
