Due to the increasing Covid numbers, the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet AGM was moved at relatively short notice from a person-to-person meeting in the DMYC to an online Zoom meeting last Thursday night.
Given that there are thirty-plus Flying Fifteens situated in Dun Laoghaire across three of the four waterfront clubs, an attendance in the high teens/low twenties could be considered quite good in this day and age.
Outgoing Class Captain, Neil Colin (4028/DMYC), who served a two-year term due to the shortened Covid afflicted 2019 season, presented his report that among other things highlighted the new boat additions to the fleet, 4093 Ian Matthews & Keith Poole and 4085 Shane McCarthy and noted that there have been further upgrades to the fleet over the past couple of years – 4057 Tom Murphy, 4068 David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne, 4081 Ben Mulligan and 4083 John Lavery & Alan Green. It was also noted that Mick Quinn and Mary-Jane Mulligan have also brought in a boat from the UK – 3960 in recent weeks.
He referenced the proposed changes by DBSC to a Windward-Leeward course for Thursday night racing and conceded that while the change didn’t materialise in the strictest form of a W/L course, we still had enjoyed good racing on Thursdays that had departed from the traditional multi-mark races that are a feature of Thursday night racing to a three-mark format. In all we had enjoyed 48 races over the summer months, not counting three weeks of “trial races” at the very start of the DBSC season. Thanks were offered to the various Race Officers and Race Teams who had given of their time throughout the season.
Travelling to away events had presented a challenge, with only one DL Fifteen contesting the Northern Championships in Portaferry. A better turnout was recorded for the Nationals in SLYC. However, the one DL-hosted event had seen local boats parked on the hard over the weekend in question.
The ongoing Covid situation also impacted on the social side of the season and it has now also claimed the Annual Dinner and Prize-giving, originally scheduled for Friday 26th November in the National Yacht Club, but now postponed to early 2022 (hopefully).
There was some discussion as to how the participant numbers might be improved for 2022 and there was a view that communication is key to that exercise. In respect of travelling to away events, the suggestion was that a clinic on the condition and maintenance of road trailers might be an exercise to persuade more people to travel. Covid had impacted on a proposal to conduct a training weekend, so that was also put on the agenda for 2022.
Nationally, the FFAI committee had met the evening before, again on Zoom, and they will be concentrating on getting a 2022 calendar in shape as a preamble to a FFAI AGM, which is hoped might be held before the end of the year. In this meeting too, the emphasis was on getting numbers back on the water.
Congratulations were offered to the various winners during the 2021 season – Alan Balfe & Patrick Frison Roche (Tuesday nights, Fifty Something Cup)), David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne (Saturdays, Bryan S Ryan Trophy) Ken Dumpleton and Joe Hickey (Thursdays, Flying Fifteen Gun), Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey (Midweek Handicap Racing, Blake Cup) Niall & Susan Coleman (Facet Trophy) and Ian Matthews and Keith Poole (Captain’s Prize).
Peter Sherry gave a very favourable report on the Fleet’s Finances.
In terms of the officers for the 2022 Season, Jill Fleming has been selected as Class Captain with Keith Poole as her Vice-Captain. Frank Burgess stood down as Trophy Secretary with Ronan Beirne selected as his successor. David Mulvin passed on the role of Secretary but as I didn’t take notes, I can’t tell you his successor! Peter Sherry retains the Treasurer portfolio.
Neil Colin was acclaimed for his stewardship of the fleet over the past two seasons.
Zoom timed the meeting out before any meaningful discussion under Any Other Business.
