Dublin Bay Sailing Club Commodore Tony Fox on racing in the waters of the Capital in 2010
After a miserable and prolonged winter, Dublin Bay sailors in 2010 have had their most enjoyable season for years. Winds were kindly, cancellations were few, entries held up well, (economy notwithstanding) and finances continue to show a modest surplus.
In the way of racing, two full days were lost because of bad weather – one because of insufficiency of wind, and the other because there was an over-abundance of it. Most years we may have to report that up to eight days racing were lost. Not so in 2010. True, there were occasions when boisterous conditions tested gear and crew to the utmost – but, then, that's what gives our sport its moments of drama and exhilaration.
Turnouts, too, held up well. Some members felt that the number of boats actually racing on the keelboat courses had fallen away from that of earlier years but, on examination of the figures, that turned out not to be the case. Thursday turnouts, in fact, measured as proportion of the boats entered, was about 54% which is very much in line with previous years - evidence, surely, that the new courses were having the effect hoped for. Saturday courses remained virtually unchanged at 37%. Membership fell slightly from 1,665 to 1,590.
Where there was certainly a perceptible decline was on the Tuesday night keelboat course. Statistics are not usually kept for this activity but all agree there was a distinct fall off. A possible explanation is that Tuesday is usually a night for younger people, which is the category most affected by the recession, having either left the country or having more on their minds than racing around Dublin Bay. A pity really because Tuesday night racing had been gaining in popularity in recent times.
Race favourites
Race officers have to make difficult decisions, sometimes in very trying circumstances. Not everyone wants the job or, in truth, would be asked to do it. The race officer has to have some knowledge of the characteristics of Dublin Bay boats, not to mention the capabilities of their crews and in all sorts of conditions. Sometimes their judgements may not please all, but when it comes down to it, the Officer of the Day - to use the old phrase – makes the decisions. Once the sailing instruction have been published and the facilities are in place, he or she is totally in charge.
We were fortunate that this year, with Rear-Commodore Chris Moore in charge of the roster, things worked out very well. There were no alarms – no unfortunate committee members being pulled off their boats at the last minute to stand in for a missing race officer, as has happened in other years. My thanks to this year's panel, most of them active Dublin Bay sailors who gave up their time afloat so that the rest of us could enjoy our racing.
Insurance:
DBSC, incidentally, has always made a point of ensuring that everyone involved in organising racing is covered by the club's insurance. The premiums are not insignificant – the most recent came to e5,500, but that was e2,175 lower than the 2008 figure - a reduction for which we must thank Hon. Treasurer Ian Mathews.
Cruiser Challenge
The Cruiser Challenge this year took place in breezy if not quite stormy conditions. It was a challenge in every sense of the word, for both crews and equipment. Entries were up and everyone by all accounts enjoyed it enormously. The overall prize, the Peggy Bawn Trophy, was won by Paul O'Higgins' Rockabill V.
My thanks to the organiser, Vice Commodore Pat Shannon, who spent a lot of time and energy in ensuring that all went smoothly. Thanks, too, to all the volunteers who manned the race office, committee boats and ribs, not forgetting the Race Officer, Hal Bleakley, who for the eighteenth time, presided over the Cruiser Challenge with his usual blend of assurance, humour and good sense.
Thanks also to MGM Boats for their sponsorship of the event as well as other friends and supporters who provided prizes, particularly Captain Simon Coate, Dun Laoghaire Harbour Master.
Making your mark
Not so long ago the Club had 13 marks to race around, excluding, the Burfords and, of course, the starting marks.
We now have 22, not including Turning Mark and the two starting marks. Managing all this and keeping them all in position has become a chore, not to mention a considerable expense. Ground tackle has been strengthened in recent times, so that drifting buoys is not a problem it was. Pier Mark did indeed suffered some damage late in the season and afterwards drifted towards Bulloch, leaving its mooring, unfortunately, on the seabed.(It has since been recovered).
As mentioned in our last report, Peter Redden, who has been in charge of marks for the last two years, had identified a very useful device which tracks buoys when they go missing; it can also transmit valuable metrological information such as wind speed and direction. Poldy was equipped with this device late in the season but it is too early yet to judge how it will fare in this particularly busy location.
Committee aims for more
Now ten years or more in service, MacLir continues to be one of the mainstays of DBSC keelboat racing. This year, much of her electrics were overhauled, there were safety enhancements, her mooring gear improved and batteries replaced - costly but not a recurring expenditure which should see her fit for service for another ten years.
As members may have heard, the Committee, after much research and reflection, has decided to acquire another committee vessel. It will replace the John T. Biggs for dinghy racing on Tuesdays and Saturdays and join MacLir for keelboat racing on Thursdays. It may alternate with MacLir for SB3 racing on Saturday afternoons. The John T. Biggs, (the former Lima), which we acquired in 1985, will continue to service the Wags' Wednesday racing besides acting as back-up if needed on other courses.
As a location or starting and finishing races, the West Pier has a number of physical limitations. With the wind from the south, windward starts are out of the question, which is not helpful in setting a fair starting line. In westerly winds, too, there are problems when boats are finishing with their mainsails boomed out or spinnakers drawing so that the Team have difficulty in reading sail numbers, giving rise to queries and later corrections.
This is not to say that the Hut will not continue to be Dublin Bay's most useful asset and its most enduring. Not the least of its attractions is the quality (and personalities) of the race management team who year after year provide sailors with such peerless service. No committee in its senses would ever contemplate abandoning such a resource. I am happy to confirm that the Hut will continue to service Saturday racing and, of course, Tuesdays. It will also be called into service when a committee vessel might not be available or if weather conditions don't allow it.
Winter Racing
Summer racing over, the Dublin Bay sailor not keen on hibernating can always have recourse to the winter series, the Turkey Shoot and the Spring Chicken. Not too many of the regulars, really, since non-marina boats have to come ashore at the end of the season. Quite a number of the participants tend to come from the cruising side of sailing. Racing, at first, was not a serious thing – it was more like a cheerful sail-in-company around familiar locations such as the Muglins and Turning Mark.
But with success came competition - very keen at times – and numbers have grown. Last winter's Turkey Shoot series attracted 95 entries, obliging the organiser Fintan Cairns to split them into four starts. Our thanks to Fintan and the rest of the race management team, the principle sponsor Viking Marine and the other friends who donated the weekly prizes.
Dinghies enjoy trapezoids
Dinghies had a good season. Against the trend, numbers of those sailing on the dinghy courses were slightly up on last year. Thanks to Brian O'Hare, there were some lively and interesting courses. A novelty was the trapezoid course, introduced into DBSC dinghy racing for the first time, after much thought and preparation on Brian's part. It called for precise, methodical mark laying, with the use of GPS and special software.
Initially, as you might expect, there were some minor hiccups and some race officers accustomed to laying marks in the traditional way found the GPS-based system a bit strange. However, things settled down and dinghy organisers now have a very interesting addition to the types of courses they can choose from.
On the keelboat side, the new courses separating the blue and red fleets into the north and south sections of the Bay worked very well. For this, once again, we are grateful to Tim Goodbody.
It's a special skill, this weaving together of all the disparate elements into a composite design and few of us feel qualified to attempt it. To be sure, there were odd things in the 2010 courses that were not to everyone's taste, least of all that of the designer himself, for whom the quest for the perfect set of Dublin Bay courses has become something like the Holy Grail With the new Committee boat, more revisions are inevitable and Tim, once again, is again back at the drawing board.
Taking a bullet
For crews crossing first across a finishing line there is no phrase as sweet as "We got the gun". It became a bit redundant around Dublin Bay towards the end of the season, DBSC having run out of cartridges. Not our fault, really. The fact is our English supplier is no longer manufacturing the ten gauge blank cartridges that fit the Club's signal cannon.
The Committee recognize that there is no real substitute. Somehow "We got the hoot" has not got the same resonance – in every sense of the word – and they have been seeking to resolve the problem. David Moore, our local supplier, has come up with a suggestion – a "sleeve" or adaptor that will enable our guns to fire the twelve gauge blanks that are in abundant supply. Tests are proceeding.
Room to store
Hut apart, DBSC has no premises of its own. Storage of the Club's equipment over the winter has, therefore, has been somewhat of a problem. Carmel Winkelmann used to store the Hut's portable gear in her own house, which was kind of Carmel but undoubtedly an imposition. The late John Biggs also used to bring home some of the equipment used in dinghy racing...
I am happy to report that a solution has now emerged. Our Rear- Commodore, Chris Moore, has been talking to Captain Simon Coate and as a result the Harbour has now agreed to allow the Club to store equipment in a container in the Harbour Yard. My thanks to Chris and Captain Coate for sorting out the problem.
Farewell to friends
As usual, coming up to the AGM, I must report that in accordance with the Club's Articles of Association three members must retire by rotation. This year we lose Peter Redden, Chris Nicholson and Brian O'Hare. Brian, having set up the innovative new dinghy courses, announced a few weeks ago that he intended to retire. Chris has been our resident IT expert, responsible for the new web site. Peter, as I mentioned already, has been in charge of the marks activity. My thanks to all three for their contribution to DBSC racing. Chris, I should add, has agreed to stay on with us as IT Development Officer.
Many thanks to Port CEO
In some yachting centres, relations between boat owners and the local authorities sometimes are not very good. Such is not – nor has it ever been – the case in Dublin Bay. Harbour masters in these waters have often been organisers or participants in local sailing events. Indeed, the first regatta ever held in Dublin Bay was organised in 1828 by the then Harbour Master of Dun Laoghaire, Captain. William Hutchinson.
This happy relationship is not accidental: successive DBSC committees have always made a point of anticipating and resolving any possible conflict that might arise between the recreational side of things and port and harbour authorities.
It hasn't been difficult, really, because of warm relations between all concerned. We share the same stretches of water, after all, and, then, there are obvious commercial realities to be taken into account as well.
In recent times relations between Dublin Port and ourselves have been particularly felicitous because of the enlightened approach of the Port's recently-retired CEO, Enda Connellan. The Port helped with the acquisition of MacLir and afterwards with the purchase of two new engines and they have also been sponsoring our yearbook. I thank Enda for all he has done and also the Port's marketing executive, Brenda Daly. We look forward to equally happy relationship with its new management.
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TROPHY WINNERS 2010 |
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PREMIER AWARDS |
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Viking Trophy |
Henry & Caroline |
Leonard |
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Notable contribution to sailing |
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Dun Laoghaire Harbour Trophy |
Cruisers 2 |
Smile |
BO'Sullivan, E.Healy |
POConnell |
Best new boat |
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Dr Alf Delany Memorial Cup |
Squibs |
Anemos |
Pete & Anne |
Evans |
Best boat on dinghy course |
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Waterhouse Shield |
Cruisers 3 |
Supernova |
K.Lawless, PShannon |
SMcCormack |
Best handicap boat |
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Newsom Cup |
Sigma 33s |
White Mischief |
Timothy |
Goodbody |
Best One-Design |
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Brendan Ebrill Memorial Cup |
Peridpt |
Cruisers 2 |
JMcCann |
& others |
Special Conditions |
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Cruisers 0 |
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Centenary Trophy |
Lively Lady |
Derek |
Martin Esq |
Saturday Echo overall |
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Knox-Gore Bowl |
Tsunami |
Vincent |
Farrell |
Thursday Echo overall |
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Knox-Gore Cup |
WOW |
George |
Sisk |
Saturday IRC overall |
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Martin Cup |
WOW |
George |
Sisk |
Thursday IRC overall |
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Cruisers 1 |
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Osterberg Cup |
Indecision |
D.Hayes,R.Moloney |
& P. Halpenny |
Saturday Echo overall |
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Tiamat Trophy |
Indecision |
D.Hayes,R.Moloney |
& P. Halpenny |
Thursday Echo overall |
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Weir Cup |
Jalapeno |
Dermod |
Baker & others |
Saturday IRC overall |
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West Pier Officers cup |
Joker II |
John |
Maybury |
Thursday IRC overall |
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Cruisers 2 |
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Cruisers 2 |
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T.P. Early Cup |
Bendemeer |
Lindsay . J. Casey |
& Denis Power |
Saturday Echo overall |
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Silver Salver |
Jawesome II |
V.Kennedy, M.Dyke |
& B. Darcy |
Saturday IRC overall |
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Lady Shamrock Trophy |
Jawesome II |
V.Kennedy, M.Dyke |
& B. Darcy |
Thursday IRC overall |
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Silver Foam Trophy |
Red Rhum |
Jonathan & Chris |
Nicholson |
Most improved boat |
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Centenary Cup |
Red Rhum |
Jonathan & Chris |
Nicholson |
Thursday ECHO overall |
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Briscoe Trophy |
Red Rhum |
Jonathan & Christopher |
Nicholson |
Tuesday Echo overall |
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Cruisers 3 |
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Cruisers 3 |
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Mercia Cup |
Jammie Dodger |
J.H. |
O'Neill |
Saturday Echo overall |
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Jack Kennedy Memorial Cup |
Supernova |
K.Lawless, P.Shannon |
& Sybil McCormack |
Saturday IRC overall |
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Viking Clock Trophy |
Supernova |
K. Lawless, Syb. McCormack |
P.Shannon |
Thursday Echo overall |
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Smalldridge Cup |
Supernova |
K. Lawless, Syb. McCormack |
& P.Shannon |
Thursday IRC overall |
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Cruisers 4 |
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Cruisers 4 |
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Sanderling Trophy |
Maranda |
Myles |
Kelly |
Combined Sats. & Mid-week |
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Annette Cup |
Maranda |
Myles |
Kelly |
Tuesday overall |
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Whimbrel Rose Bowl |
Rascal |
K.Burke, S.Milner |
& D. Palmer |
Saturday overall |
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White Sails |
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White Sails |
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Burford Trophy |
Arwen |
Philip |
O'Dwyer Esq |
Thursday IRC overall |
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White Sail Class Trophy |
Calypso |
Howard |
Knott Esq |
Saturday IRC overall |
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Gerry Henry Salver |
Calypso |
Howard |
Knott |
Thursday Echo overall |
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Anna Livia Trophy |
Finnegans Wake |
Representtives of |
F.Cooney |
Saturday Echo overall |
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Sigmas 33 |
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Sigmas 33 |
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J.B. Stephens Trophy |
Rupert |
R.Lovegrove & |
P.Varian |
Thursday & Sats combined |
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Rupert Bowl |
White Mischief |
Timothy |
Goodbody Esq |
1st Saturday Series-Trophy |
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Bective Lights Crystal Trophy |
White Mischief |
Timothy |
Goodbody Esq |
Saturday overall |
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Fireseal Sigma 33 Trophy |
White Mischief |
Timothy |
Goodbody Esq |
Thursdays overall |
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31.7s |
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31.7s |
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Arandora Trophy |
Prospect |
Chris. |
Johnston |
Saturday Overall-One Design |
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Horrigan Cup |
Prospect |
Chris. |
Johnston |
Thursday Overall -Echo |
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Feanor Trophy |
Prospect |
Chris. |
Johnston |
Thursday overall One-Design |
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Long John Silver Cup |
Violet Flame |
Brendan Murphy |
& Lesley Osborne |
Saturday Overall- Echo |
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Dragons |
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Torry Cup |
Chiang |
Iain Finnegan & |
Chris Fleming |
Special conditions |
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Old Time Cup |
Phantom |
N.Hegarty, D.Williams |
& P.Bowring |
Combined Saturday & Thursday |
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RIYC Cup |
Phantom |
N.Hegarty, D.Williams |
& P.Bowring |
Saturdays Overall |
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Oxford & Cambridge Cup |
Phantom |
N.Hegarty, D.Williams |
& P.Bowring |
Thursday overall |
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Glens |
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Glens |
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Bobolink Cup |
Glendun |
Alison |
OBrien |
Dalkey Island Race |
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Pterodactyl Cup |
Glendun |
Derek Freedman |
& Brian Denham |
Thursday overall |
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Glen Challenge Trophy |
Glenluce |
Marcus |
Pearson |
Crews races |
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Pair of Silver Vases |
Glenluce |
Lucy |
Grant |
Ladies Race |
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Commodore O'Meara Trophy |
Glenluce |
Donal and Richard |
O'Connor |
Olympic races |
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Harry Maguire Memorial Cup |
Glenluce |
Donal and Richard |
O'Connor |
Saturday overall |
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The McMullen Cup |
Glenluce |
Donal and Richard |
O'Connor |
Sts & Thurs combined + regatta |
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Ruffians |
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John Donnelly Perpetual Cup |
Alias |
Richard |
Meeke |
Best Tuesday Boat |
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Huet Trophy |
Diane II |
Bruce |
Carswell |
Thursday overall |
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British Airways Trophy |
Ruff 'N'Ready |
A.Kirwan, V. Brown |
& B. Cullen |
Saturday Overall |
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J.Lamont Brown Trophy |
Ruff Nuff |
Derek & Carol |
Mitchell |
Sat & Thurs overall |
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A |
Shipmans |
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Shipmans |
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The Midweek Trophy |
Curraglas |
John P. |
Masterson |
Thursdays overall |
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The Malindi Cup |
JO Slim |
J.D. Clarke, |
B. & W. Maher |
Saturdays overall |
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The Shipman Perpetual Trophy |
Whiterock |
Henry |
Robinson Esq |
Special conditions |
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Lasers SB3 |
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Lunasa Trophy |
Alert Packaging |
Justin |
Burke |
Special Conditions (Sunday Series 2 etc) |
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Bealtaine Trophy |
Mephisto |
Stephanie & Tim |
Bourke |
Special Conditions |
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Equinox Trophy |
Odin |
James |
Gorman Esq |
Special Conditions- 3rd series) |
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Sunday SB3 Cup |
Sin Bin |
Barry |
O'Neill |
Sunday overall |
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Crichton Trophy |
Sunbin |
Barry |
O'Neill |
Thursday overall |
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Water Wags |
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G.Pugin Melden Trophy |
Gavotte |
Frank |
Guy |
Wags Series 2 |
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Goldsmith Cup |
Moosmie |
David |
McFarlane Esq |
Wednesday Overall |
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Blue Bird Trophy |
Swift |
Guy |
Kilroy |
Wags Series 1 |
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Flying 15s |
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Flying 15s |
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Flying Fifteen Gun |
Deranged |
Chris |
Doorly Esq |
Thursday overall |
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Brian S.Ryan Trophy |
Hy5ive |
David & Sarah |
Gorman |
Saturday overall |
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Blake Cup |
Mellifluence |
Tom Leonard & |
Mary Jane Mulligan |
Special Conditions |
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Mermaids |
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Mermaids |
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Iolar Cup |
Kim |
David Cassidy & |
N.Murph-Ruane |
Saturday overall |
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J.B.Kearney Shield |
Lively Lady |
Michael Hanney & |
Geraldine O'Neill |
Saturday-special conditions |
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Stella Cup |
Lively Lady |
Michael Hanney & |
Geraldine O'Neill |
Thursday;special conditions |
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Amy Cup |
Tiller Girl |
Jonathan |
O'Rourke |
Tuesday Overall |
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A |
Squibs |
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Squibs |
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Shannon Cup |
Anemos |
Pete & Ann |
Evans Esq |
Saturday Overall |
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Minx Trophy |
Anemos |
Pete & Ann |
Evans Esq |
Thursday Overall |
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Fireballs |
Fireballs |
Fireballs |
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Nuits St.George Trophy |
Elevation |
Neil Colin |
& Margaret Casey |
Tuesday overall |
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The Saturday Cup |
Licence to Thrill |
Louis |
Smyth |
Saturday Overall |
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IDRA14 |
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IDRA14s |
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The Kennedy Cup |
Dunmoainin' |
Frank |
Hamilton |
Saturday overall |
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Bay Cup |
Dunmoanin' |
Frank |
Hamilton |
Tuesday overall |
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Melampus Cup |
Squalls |
Stephen |
Harrison |
Special conditions |
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Half-Way Trophy |
Svega |
Rosie |
Aylmer |
Special Conditions |
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Portsmouth Yardstick |
Portsmouth YS |
Portsmouth YS |
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Early Bird Trophy |
470 No.77 |
Gerry Ryan |
& John MacAree |
1st seeries Tues, & Sat.combined |
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Sailcraft Tray |
Laser 178952 |
Peter |
Craig |
Combined Saturday & Midweek |
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The Windmill Cup |
Laser 178952 |
Peter |
Craig |
Tuesday overall |
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Lanaverre Cup |
MCM11 |
Brendan McConville & |
Colette Downey |
Saturdays overall |
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Juniors |
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Juniors |
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Lawson Cup |
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Eoin |
Malin |
46373 |
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Jimmy Mooney Goblet |
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Cian |
Cahill |
170456 |
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Mitchell Cup |
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Conor |
O'Beirne |
1595 |
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Pioneer Trophy |
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Tadhg |
Donnelly |
198561 |
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Seapoint Cup |
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Sean |
Donnelly |
1 |
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