#dbsc – Ensign - 1. INSS 2 (K Rumball), 2. INSS (R Jones)

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

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

Tonight's Fireball dinghy racing in Dublin Bay, under the burgee of DBSC was cancelled due to a combination of factors - natural and man-made writes Cormac Bradley

The advent of the cruise liner season saw another mega-sized vessel anchored in the race course area of Scotsman's Bay. The inability of such vessels to enter Dun Laoghaire's harbour means that passengers are ferried ashore and "back to base" by a combbination of smaller boats and the cruise liner's own lifeboats. This heightened traffic meant that racing inside the harbour was not a possibility. Hence the man-made intervention!

Mother Nature "pitched in" with a stiff westerly that generated whitecaps for most of the day on Dublin Bay and while there was evidence of this dropping in strength as boats were being rigged, a decision to "blow" the evening was taken.

This forthcoming weekend sees the first of our summer regattas, The Open Championships, being sailed out of Skerries, further up the East Coast from Dublin Bay. Breeze, as usual for this location, is forecast. Numbers are a little low with 4 days to go. Thus far it looks like it will be a substantially DL fleet contesting the event. So to the readership of this column (of which there seen to be many), if you have a Fireball, we'd love to see you on the water!

#flyingfifteen – Frank Burgess and Brian Maguire  sailing Flying Fifteen 3747 lead all three Mitsubishi Flying Fifteen DBSC races on Saturday. In a startling contrasting day, launching in a 5 to zero knot breeze, 17 Flying Fifteens ventured out on to Seapoint bay for the day's racing , to be totally becalmed at one stage.
Then at about 2.20 a radio message came up from Scotsman bay that the forecasted wind from the south was on its way .
Race 1. Our esteemed DBSC OOD Jonathan O'Rourke, set Course X3, a windward / Leeward Course and a clean start at first attempt and off the 17 FF's went up the beat. Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 were pushed out to sea and the still flooding tide by Mulvin/ Beirne FF 4028 , while the majority of the fleet went in shore to get out of the tide. But due to a lifting wind and good pressure Burgess/ Maguire FF 3747 got round the windward mark in first place.
Burgess/ Maguire FF3747 lead for 3 rounds but like all good sailors did not read the course card and were coming to the finishing line, downwind, and saw no blue flag . Course X3 has 4 rounds. So a really tactically race ensued, with Mathews/ Poole FF 3864, commencing a tacking duel (as Poole indicated afterwards, to see if they could break Burgess). And lone behold they did and down the run Mathews/ Poole FF 3864 overtook Burgess/ Maguire FF 3747 and got the gun . A real race for 2nd then ensued between Galvin / Galvin FF 3757 and Burgess/Maguire FF 3747, which the latter won by a nose.
Race 2 Quickly followed , Course T2, was set by the OOD Mr J O'Rourke. This being an Olympic Course we later learnt. Off the fine fleet of Flying Fifteen went up the beat in 12/15 knots of breeze. As the tide had turned Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 did not mind been pushed again out to sea by FF 3970 Mulligan/ Green and again rounded the weather mark in first place , and hoisted the spinnaker very efficiently and set a course for Howth and the gybe mark. They were quickly followed by the rest of the fleet , but could not find the gybe mark.
Out to sea we all went, it was a beautiful sight to see the FF fleet in full flight with spinnakers flying and no where to go . So Burgess made a prat of himself and for all of Dublin Bay to hear, radioed the "FreeBird". and requested "where was the Gybe Mark "
To be informed that, "It was an Olympic Course and read your fleet card" . As the fleet were now racing towards about 30 cruisers , the race was abandoned.
Our OOD Jonathan O'Rourke later informed us , there was no Gybe mark set and he truly thought he had set W2, a windward / Leeward Course. ( He should have gone to SpecSavers). He forgot to put on his glasses. We can all make mistakes.
Race 3  followed within a few minutes and all was forgiven , as we had an excellent race in a shifting southerly breeze , lead all the way by Burgess/ Maguire FF 3747, who to the delighted of our excellent OOD Mr J O'Rourke and his fantastic support race team, gave the leading boat FF 3747 Burgess/Maguire the gun and a rapturous applause which was returned with gusto .
The real race was down the fleet where , FF 3757, Galvin/Galvin, FF 3970, Mulligan/Green fought it out for 2nd and 3 rd place.
As Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 had a 2nd and 1st and FF 3684 Mathews/Poole had unfortunate gear failure, Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 were delighted after some excellent race management and great competition from a super fleet of Mitsubishi sponsored Flying Fifteen's, won the day.

DBSC results here.

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 2.

Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 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 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lively Lady (Derek
Martin), 3. Wow (George Sisk)

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

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al), 2. Raptor
(D.Hewitt et al), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Raptor (D.Hewitt et
al), 3. Gringo (Tony Fox)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey
& D Power), 3. Helter Skelter (A & A Jermyn)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jawesome 111 (M Dyke &
B Darcy), 3. Black Sheep (E Healy)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle), 2. Wynward (W
McCormack), 3. Pamafe (M Costello)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Quest (J Skerritt), 2. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll),
3. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello)

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

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

DRAGON Race 1- 1. Dublin Bay (G Treacy), 2. Diva
(R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 3. Phantom (D.Williams)

DRAGON Race 2- 1. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 2. Phantom
(D.Williams)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 2. Thingamabob
(T Galvin), 3. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews), 2. Snow
White (Frank Burgess), 3. Thingamabob (T Galvin)

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

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

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

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Tijuana (David Stedmond)

PY CLASS - 1. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Alias
(D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

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

SIGMA 33 Echo - 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. Rupert (R & P
Lovegrove), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

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

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann
Evans), 3. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Tears in Heaven (M Halpenny & G Ferguson), 2.
Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Femme Fatale (V Delaney)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Sweet Martini (Bruce Carswell), 2.
Cevantes (Paul Conway), 3. Lucy O (Aonghus O hEocha)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Cevantes (Paul Conway), 2. Calypso (Howard
Knott), 3. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al)

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

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

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), 3. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 3. Ruthless (Conor Ronan)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Antix (D Ryan)

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

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

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

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Small Wonder (H Kelly), 2. Saki (Paget McCormack et al), 3. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

Combined Classes - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Thingamabob (T Galvin), 2. Flyer (Niall Coleman), 3. Betty (D & S Gorman)

GLEN - 1. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes), 2. Glenshesk (Walker\Reid\Henderson), 3. Glendun (B.Denham et al)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 2. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 3. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada)

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

SHIPMAN - 1. Invader (Gerard Glynn), 2. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 3. The Den (A. Costello/G.Millar)

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

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

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

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

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Menapia (J Sweeney), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Setanta (G Denn)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Menapia (J Sweeney)

#dbsclaser – Last night saw another strong turnout in the low teens for the DBSC Laser fleet, which now has 23 paid up and entered for the series.

Conditions were again gusty and shifty in an unstable south westerly. Race Officer Vincent Delany initially ventured out towards Scotsman's Bay but a nasty squall up towards 30–knots brought a sensible change of heart and the fleet scrambled back into the harbour for two exciting W/L races.

Boat handling was at a premium with radical shifts and pressure changes. Dan O'Beirne holds the "yellow jersey" outright now after two nice firsts, with Patrick Cahill 2nd in race 1 and new arrival Luke Murphy runner-up in race 2. In each case Dan was pushed hard. Further back was very tight too and a few of the 13 starters found the going tough in this early season outing, retiring for early refreshments.

Sailing wrapped up around 830pm in warm sunshine. We hope to have photos of next Tuesday's action.

DBSC Results here.

#fireballdbsc – For the second Tuesday Fireball race in a row the wind refused to play fair but DBSC triumphed despite the adverse conditions writes Frank Miller. The forecast had been looking dodgy but when Fireballers arrived at their respective clubs conditions looked good. The force 4-6 SW was nowhere to be seen, the evening was relatively balmy with medium conditions and the odd spikey gust. By the time boats launched however a squall had gone through and there seemed to be more where that came from out west. Sure enough on the way out of the harbour at about 18.45 the wind cranked up and boats surged down towards the committee boat in Scotsman's Bay.

Later research shows DLH weather recorded 33 knots at that point. Boats were reaching around the start area, more or less under control, but there was no doubting it was very windy. At this stage the race committee upped sticks and sailors were ordered back inside the harbour. There a windward-leeward course was quickly set and racing got underway. Four Fireballs hung around for the racing while others decided to return to the slip. There followed two races in tricky conditions - the main challenge being some very big shifts rather than the actual wind strength which while lively was manageable. Special mention must go to Tim Crowe a relative novice to sailing who found himself competing in his first race in interesting conditions, sailing with Frank Miller. The main competition on the night was between Noel Butler/Stephen Oram and the Clancy Brothers. Race one saw Butler/Oram pull ahead when the Clancys had a near capsize in one of the huge shifts.

A twisted hoist however saw the Clancys pull through on the downwind leg but Butler/Oram clawed their way back on the next windward leg and they stayed ahead to take the gun. Miler/Crowe managed to beat Louise McKenna and Hermine O'Keeffe when the latter had trouble with a kite drop. Race 2 saw three Fireballs start as the ladies retired following a capsize but with black clouds building to the west Miller/Crowe also decided to head for home while the going was good. Of the two remaining Butler/Oram pulled away from the Clancys and led to the finish. For the second week in a row hats off to DBSC for getting two races away in challenging conditions when it would have been so easy to throw in the towel. The reward for the fleet was great racing and for DBSC it is growing credibility for excellent race management in tricky conditions.

Results HERE

#dbsc – CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Jambiya (Ryan & Lattimore)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Syzrgy (R Fogarty), 2. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 3. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan)

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

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al)

Laser - 1. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 2. Rob Cahill (RSGYC), 3. Luke Murphy (RSGYC)

Laser - 1. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 2. Luke Murphy (RSGYC), 3. Colin Galavan (RIYC)

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS - 1. Tom Murphy (K1), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor Duffy (RS400)

PY CLASS - 1. Tom Murphy (K1)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Cresendo (L Balfe), 2. Different Drummer (D Tonge), 3. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al)

#glen – Ki Duong, who sails on board Glenshane of the DBSC Glen keelboat class, is a keen video maker. He has produced his second Glen video featuring the first DBSC race of the season on April 23rd. Only three Glens attended although the conditions were perfect for racing. Ki was on board the winner, Glendun and this gave him ample opportunity to shoot footage of the boat he normally sails.
There is also a wonderful cameo appearance by a Moth which sort of steals the show. Tech savvy Ki is saving up for a Go Pro camera and a drone and if he ever gets them, look out Hollywood.'

#DBSC - CRUISERS 1: 1 Something Else (J Hall et al); 2 Bon Exemple (C Byrne); 3 Gringo (Tony Fox)

CRUISERS 1 Echo: 1 Something Else (J Hall et al); 2 Bon Exemple (C Byrne); 3 Gringo (Tony Fox)

Combined Classes Echo: 1 Something Else (J Hall et al); 2 Lynx (Kenneth Rumball); 3 Bon Exemple (C Byrne)

Combined Classes: 1 Something Else (J Hall et al); 2 Bon Exemple (C Byrne); 3 Gringo (Tony Fox)