Flags 'N' over 'A' flying from yard–arms at Dun Laoghaire's four waterfront yacht clubs at tea–time was confirmation that tonight's first Thursday race of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) season had been cancelled due to strong winds.
Principal race officer Jack Roy cancelled all racing when 'squalls constantly hit 40+' and Dublin Bay Buoy recorded a 53–knot gust. The London 2012 Race Officer said it was 'gear damaging weather for a first night out'.
The Bay was also hit with a hail shower so there was plenty of sailors relieved not to be heading out on to slippery decks. The country's biggest yacht club has now had to cancel both its Tuesday and Thursday race schedules this week.
Howth Head lost in squall so @DBSC_1884 called sailing off & ate pig @RSGYC @AfloatMagazine. Oh well 7 more sleeps pic.twitter.com/1w1KcoTAP9
— rachel crowley (@rachsail) April 28, 2016
A good turnout of Water Wag dinghies successfully completed their own in–harbour DBSC racing last night.
More moderate conditions forecast for Saturday indicate the 2016 summer season might finally get underway in two days time.