The DBSC SB20 fleet had champagne sailing conditions on Dublin bay last Sunday. 8 boats lined up for 3 fantastic windward leeward courses set by Con Murphy of the National Yacht Club. Davy Taylor onboard Yachtsman.ie with a 2nd, 1st, 2nd had the best results of the day. Davy below describes the 3 races.

Race 1 saw most of the fleet starting at the committee boat end of the line in search for pressure on the right hand side of the course. Probably (Mark Nolan, Ian Simington & Gavan Murphy), positioned in the middle of the line were the quickest to make gains following the gun. After dealing with shifty conditions on the first beat, Yachtsman.ie (Davy Taylor, Marty O'Leary, Lisa Neary & Rachel Williamson) lead the fleet into the windward mark followed by Bad-Kilcullen (Stefan Hyde, Jerry Dowling & Jimmy Dowling) and Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey, Chris Nolan & Rory Groves). For the first downwind leg, the fleet returned to the right side of the course for more breeze. The fleet split at the leeward gate and boats who favoured the port mark gained an advantage on the rest. Bad-Kilcullen made their second windward mark rounding in first place followed by Yachtsman.ie and Sin Bin (Michael O'Connor, Owen Laverty & Kevin Johnson). The final downwind saw a final attempt from the fleet to take the lead position from Bad-Kilcullen without success. Crossing the finish line in first was Bad-Kilcullen, 2nd Yachtsman.ie and 3rd Sin Bin.

In race 2 the breeze shifted slightly right and all boats hovered around the starboard end of the line. An overly eager fleet led to a general recall (hats off to James Gorman on Bango for being the only boat not over the line). A quick pin reset and the boats were off again. A square line allowed for a good start apart from Sin Bin getting dizzy for fouling Yachtsman.ie and both boats giving the fleet a head start. For the first beat, the fleet went left and Yachtsman.ie went right, benefitting from a wind shift which saw the fleet under Yachtsman.ie's boom at the top of the course. Venuesworld.com slipped into a very close first at the windward mark followed by Yachtsman.ie and Bango (James Gorman, Ted Laverty & Henrik Olerud). Bango gained from an early set over Yachtsman.ie rounding the spreader mark. The fleet headed right with Yachtsman.ie gybing off for pressure. All of the fleet lined up for the leeward mark on port apart from Yachtsman.ie who came in on starboard getting around the port mark in front of the pack. For the next windward leg, the fleet played the unrelenting shifts and on the second downwind leg Yachtsman.ie repeated the gybe set routine in search of more pressure on the right hand side of the course. This didn't pay however, and Sin Bin and Bad-Kilcullen caught up at the finish with Yachtsman.ie winning by seconds over Sin Bin in 2nd and Bad-Kilcullen just pipping Bango on the finish line for 3rd.

The start line for Race 3 had a slight port bias but most boats chose the committee boat to begin. Sin Bin won the first windward leg profiting from stronger pressure on the port side of the course. They had a good lead over Yachtsman.ie in second and Venuesworld.com in third. Most of the fleet gybed early for pressure on the first downwind leg chasing Sin Bin. The fleet then split at the leeward gate and in challenging shifty conditions, the lead changed hands between the top 4 boats with Sin Bin eventually slipping back into first. There was a decrease in wind for the final downwind leg and an early gybe for pressure by Venuesworld.com and Yachtsman.ie allowed the two boats jump into 1st and 2nd as they reached the leeward gate. Crossing the finish line was 1st Venuesworld.com, 2nd Yachtsman.ie and Sin Bin 3rd.

Great to see Bob Hobby and his crew on Smoke on the Water back in action for their first sail of the season and Michael Galvin who normally does front on Seriously Bonkers helming. It was also great to see Ted Laverty back on the water for the first time since the birth of his first child.

This Sunday sees the final 3 races of series one taking place. Bad-Kilcullen hold just a one point lead over Sin Bin with Bango back in third & Venuesworld.com in fourth.

#dbsc – After a "blow-out" last week and no Fireball racing the previous week, due to a combination of Mother Nature and a cruise liner visit, Tuesday nights DBSC race reverted to form last night.
And with more balmy weather than the past few Tuesday's the bay returned to its seasonal oddities! Despite a forecast of North-westerly, the wind was blowing 8 -10 knots from Dalkey Sound, giving it more of an easterly flavour. The race committee wisely selected the windward/leeward course and on end of the flood tide, racing commenced on time for the PY's Fireballs and after some recalls the Lasers got away a bit later.
With some boats over enthusiastic on the line, as crossing on Starboard was marginal due to the tide effects on the committee boat, Noel & Stephen (15061) led around the first mark, but an early inshore gybe allowed the fleet to overtake them. Neil & Margaret (14775) took over and extended their lead into the downwind run to the finish when the wind started its evening tricks, as the convergence zone moved onto the course area. Despite a nail biting finish, as the fleet closed from behind, Neil & Margaret held on to win on their first DBSC outing of the season.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the delayed Laser start, delayed the commencement of a second race. As the wind then proceeded to become "cyclonic and very variable", a second race would have been a complete lottery! Enough said! Wisely, the race team headed for the bar.

#laser – Older competitors (and there are a few of us) in the DBSC Tuesday night series will remember the cartoon series "Whacky Races", produced by Hanna Barbera in the 60s and 70s. Well, last night was just like that on a glorious, warm evening when a rather extraordinary game of snakes and ladders ensued. Did any of the 12 Lasers out there not lead at one stage !? No matter, it's the finish line that counts and Ross O'Leary played a blinder to ease home first on the downwind finish after some very tricky runs into an ebbing tide.

It's good to see the older guard take a bullet, although Ross is neither one of our young guns nor one of our really crusty old "Masters". Just behind him the original "Milky Bar Kid", Dan O'Beirne, showed his usual raw speed and slick boat handling to come through very well to second and he easily maintains the overall lead.

All of the above was rather eclipsed by the only Radial out last night (we're very hopeful for more post-exams). Shirley Gilmore, sporting a new sail, sailed a fantastic race and crossed 3rd which will easily adjust to best time on corrected. We collate results both on a scratch and adjusted basis to put Radials on a completely fair footing. Finally, thanks to Flying Fifteen supremo Dave Gorman for officiating on a tricky night when he got us away well after one general recall. With the wind increasingly light and unstable, he wisely scrapped the second race.

#dbsc – Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Tuesday, 26 May 2015

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Borraine (Ean Pugh), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Jambiya (Ryan & Lattimore)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 2. Jiminy
Cricket (M Tyndall), 3. Yeehaa (McCabe Cramer Carey Whelan)

Ensign - 1. INSS 2 (G Williams), 2. NYC2 (B Mathews), 3. INSS (K
Rumball)

FIREBALL - 1. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey), 2. Incubus (C Power/M
Barry), 3. No Name (S Oram)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan), 3.
Glenmiller (P Cusack)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Dart (Pierre Long)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Cresendo (L Balfe), 2. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al),
3. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy)

SQUIB - 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup), 3.
Where's Woolly (Conor O'Leary)

#dbsc – The missing Dubin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) mark that led to the cancellation of a Thursday night yacht race a fortnight ago has been recovered. Merrion mark that is located in the western Bay area broke its anchor chain and was washed ashore on Sandymount beach during recent north–easterlies that produced steep seas, leading to the buoy breaking its anchor chain.

DBSC race officers however were unaware of Merrion's sudden absence and continued to set courses for the AWOL eight-foot high buoy. The mishap led to the scrubbing of one race from the Class two and Sigma race series. Happily, a replacement mark is now in place for this Thursday night and the hope is that the original, pictured above temporarily 'berthed' in Dun Laoghaire marina, can be back on location shortly.

DBSC provide racing on the captial's waters for over 200 boats and up to 2,000 sailors every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and is one of Europe's largest yacht racing organisations. The club lays 23 racing marks across the bay for yacht racing under different wind directions. 

It's not the first time a DBSC mark has gone missing. Others have been found previoulsy in Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales and at various points around Dublin Bay and the Irish East Coast too.

#flyingfifteen – On a beautiful summers day the Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers again with 19 boats competing in the first DBSC Saturday series. Race Officer Suzanne McGarry and her team on Freebird got two races in a flooding tide and a building southerly breeze. Frequent Flyer helmed by Ben Mulligan with Alan Green had a great day winning the two races followed closely by Gorman & Doorly with two second places.
Race 1: Ben and Alan got a great start and led the way for the whole race, behind there was a battle for the minor places, Dooley & Hickey were in great form and in lap two got into second place, it was nip and tuck between them and Gorman but on the last beat Gorman got ahead to win by a whisker. Niall Meagher sailing with Mary Jane Mulligan were a comfortable fourth followed by Maguire and Poole who had a great battle to the finish line.
Race 2: had a general recall, this was no surprise as the start line was way too short for the number of boats. Again the committee boat end had a slight bias, on the restart Colman went out to sea as Mulligan, Gorman and Poole went inshore mainly because of poor starts! Approaching the weather mark Colman was looking good coming in from the left but Mulligan got around followed by Colman and Murphy with Gorman back in the pack. It was only two laps so there was not much time to catch up, Mulligan held on but there was a lot of traffic at the final leeward mark and a large group of Fifteens arrived at the mark together with the squibs. Most tacked off to the left including Murphy and Poole to clear their air, Mulligan went in on port as did Gorman who was in the middle of the group, Gorman tacked on a good line, with the wind increasing and veering to the right it was a sprint up to the finish, Gorman was now within a boat length of Mulligan, Murphy was just behind in third, this is how it finished.
This Thursday the DBSC series continues. Results for Saturday's race here.

#dbsc – Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Saturday, 23 May 2015

BENETEAU 31.7 ECHO - 1. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 2.

Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Fiddly Bits
(Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. After You Too
(Michael Blaney), 3. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson)

CRUISERS 1 ECHO - 1. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris),
3. Powder Monkey (C Moore)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris), 3.
Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins)

CRUISERS 2 ECHO - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Kamikaze
(P.Nash/B.McIntyre), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jawesome 111 (M Dyke &
B Darcy), 3. Graduate (D O'Keeffe)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Quest (J Skerritt), 2. Asterix
(Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 3. Supernova
(McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello)

CRUISERS 3 ECHO - 1. Syzrgy (R Fogarty), 2. Quest (J Skerritt), 3.
Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

Combined Classes - 1. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan), 2. Jigamaree (R
Harris), 3. Powder Monkey (C Moore)

Combined Classes - 1. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al), 2. Jigamaree (R
Harris), 3. Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins)

Combined Classes ECHO - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje
(Ted McCourt), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

Combined Classes - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Leeuwin
(H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1 - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2.
Betty (D & S Gorman), 3. Fflogger (Alan Dooley)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2 - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2.
Betty (D & S Gorman), 3. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3.
Glenshesk (Walker\Reid\Henderson)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1 - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Dart (Pierre
Long), 3. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2 - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Dart (Pierre
Long), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Ruffles (Michael
Cutliffe), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp,
Duggan), 3. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray)

SIGMA 33 ECHO - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted
McCourt), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Leeuwin (H&C
Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted
McCourt), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

SQUIB Race 1 - 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann
Evans), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

SQUIB Race 2 - 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann
Evans), 3. Pintail (T McAllister)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - , 3. Cevantes (Paul Conway)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS ECHO - 1. Cevantes (Paul Conway), 2. Fortitudine
(D & A Clarke), 3. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al)

#dbsc – Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 21 MAY 2015

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Attitude (T
Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 3. Thirty Something
(Kavanagh\Gaffney\Jones)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton),
3. After You Too (Michael Blaney)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Wow (George Sisk),
3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan), 2. Joker 11 (John
Maybury), 3. Jigamaree (R Harris)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 2. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 3.
Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris), 3.
Jalapeno (P Barrington et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Albireo (D Simpson), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et
al), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson &
C Nicholson), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Quest (B Cunningham), 2. Supernova
(McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 2.
Huggy Bear (Doyle & Byrne), 3. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 2. Gung Ho (G &
S O'Shea), 3. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Chinook (A Bradley/P Morgan), 2. Syzrgy (R
Fogarty), 3. Small Wonder (H Kelly)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje
(Ted McCourt), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

Combined Classes - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Peridot
(Jim McCann et al), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Betty (D & S Gorman), 2. Flyer (Niall Coleman), 3.
Fflogger (Alan Dooley)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshesk
(Walker\Reid\Henderson), 3. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 2. Diane ll (A Claffey/C
Helme), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

SB20 - 1. Sin Bin (Michael O'Connor), 2. Venuesworld.com (Ger
Dempsey), 3. AlertPackaging.com (J Burke & D Burke)

SHIPMAN - 1. Poppy (P Beamish), 2. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp,
Duggan), 3. The Den (A. Costello/G.Millar)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted
McCourt), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P
Lovegrove), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted
McCourt), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SQUIB - 1. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup), 2. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 3.
Perfection (Jill Fleming)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. More Mischief (Eamonn Doyle), 2. Setanta
(G Denn), 3. Cevantes (Paul Conway)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan), 2. Act Two (Michael
O'Leary et al), 3. Cevantes (Paul Conway)

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 ECHO - 1. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 2. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 3. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson), 2. Levante
(M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Kernach (Eoin O'Driscoll)

CRUISERS 0 ECHO - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Tsunami (Vincent
Farrell), 3. Wow (George Sisk)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 ECHO - 1. Fox in Sox (A Jones), 2. Something Else (J.Hall
et al), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Bon Exemple (C
Byrne), 3. Fox in Sox (A Jones)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Jambiya (Ryan &
Lattimore), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D
Power), 3. Graduate (D O'Keeffe)

CRUISERS 3 ECHO - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Pamafe (M
Costello), 3. Taiscealai (B Richardson)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Asterix
(Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 3. Supernova
(McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello)

Combined Classes v- 1. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 2. White
Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

Combined Classes - 1. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 2. White
Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1 - 1. Ash (Joseph Coughlan), 2. As Good As
It Gets (Ross Doyle), 3. Out of the Blue (F.Mitchell/G Grier)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2 - 1. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 2. Hi Fibre
(Michael McCambridge), 3. As Good As It Gets (Ross Doyle)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Alias
(D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 2. Malindi
(B.Smith/A.Gray), 3. Invader (Gerard Glynn)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 2. White Mischief
(Timothy Goodbody), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SQUIB Race 1 - 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Perfection (Jill
Fleming), 3. Pintail (T McAllister)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Pintail (T McAllister),
3. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS ECHO - 1. Cevantes (Paul Conway), 2. Act Two
(Michael O'Leary et al), 3. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Cevantes
(Paul Conway), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

#flyingfifteen – Guest helm Sean Craig sailing with Alan Green won DBSC's Thursday's Flying Fifteen race from Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly with Dave Mulvin & Ronan Beirne in third, Again there was a great turn out of 17 boats on a tricky evening with a strong in coming tide and a light easterly breeze. There was a clean start with most boats below the line with the strong tide, the committee boat end seemed to pay but there wasn't a lot in it as there was more wind at the pin end, soon the boats got into their stride and those who went tight gained,

Colman & Quinn were going well as was Craig and Doyle. Gorman tacked more left and rounded the first mark side by side with Colman, Downwind to Bay mark was a drift but Colman led from Craig with Gorman and Mulvin close behind going into the beat out to East mark. This was to be the critical leg-most boats kept going on port but after a while Gorman went out left searching for wind, and was followed by Craig and Mulvin. Craig led with Mulvin moving up to second, Gorman third and Colman back in fourth,
Boats were worried about the time limit, it would be a shame to go to the effort of sailing and not get a finish, there was little or no wind now but on the fleet drifted towards the finish line. Craig stayed clear but there was a final twist behind, Colman seemed to be moving and catching up by coming down the middle, Mulvin gybed over to cover him but this allowed Gorman who was over on the right to drift into second place. Mulvin finished third with Colman fourth and Dooley fifth. On arriving ashore the crews were delighted to see that the BBQ was still going strong..

Well done to the PRO Jack Roy and his team on Freebird for perservering in difficult conditions. This Saturday the DBSC series continues but many of the fleet will be heading to Whitehead for the East Coast Championships being hosted by County Antrim Sailing Club.

Click for DBSC Thursday results