#dbsc – The boats are lifted in, 23 racing marks are laid across the Bay and the Dublin Bay Sailing Club yearbook has been posted to 1,200 members. It means only one thing; the biggest sailin league in the country – is about to start.

For the 2015 season there have been tweaks to the DBSC racing format.

In the keelboat divisions, the trend of mixed handicap and one-design racing will be carried further when the Sigma 33 class start racing with Cruisers 2.

The Sigmas enjoyed a considerable popularity in Dublin Bay since they emerged as a separate class in 2000 but recently this has waned. Re-joining Cruisers 2 on the starting line, with which they raced earlier, should provide all concerned with more competition, according to Sigma captain Paddy Maguire.

The Sigmas will retain their separate identity, and will continue to receive separate results, as will Cruisers 2. But overall ECHO and IRC results will be provided for the combined fleets. 

In the foreword to the 2015 DBSC yearbook, Commodore Pat Shannon comments:

'There was a time when DBSC was almost entirely a one-design club – in fact, Dublin Bay, deservedly or not, had the reputation of being "the home of one-design racing". The reason advanced for this accolade was that Ireland was not on the same economic level as our more affluent neighbours. One-design racing suited our pockets. We could not afford – so the argument goes – the constant innovation, the frequent model changes that is the hallmark of cruiser racing.

Such is no longer the situation. Whether or not economics has anything to do with it, cruiser racers form an important part of the Dublin Bay fleet – up to one- third in 2014. Cruiser racers, yes, but with a qualification. For some, like the 31.7s, the distinction between cruisers and one-designs is academic, since, in essence, they are one-design and receive one-design points, the accompanying ECHO handicap points providing an award system for boats that may not be in a position to compete on level rating.

The one-design/cruiser distinction is not so absolute either in Cruisers 1. The J109s constitute a major part of the fleet, and in addition to IRC and ECHO results, also receive points for one-design

This trend of mixed handicap/ one-design racing is carried a step further in this season's programme, with the Sigma 33 class racing with Cruisers 2. The Sigmas enjoyed a considerable popularity in Dublin Bay since they emerged as a separate class in 2000 but recently this has waned. Re-joining Cruisers 2 on the starting line, with which they raced earlier, should provide all concerned with more competition and more enjoyable racing. The Sigmas will retain their separate identity, and will continue to receive separate results, as will also Cruisers 2. But overall ECHO and IRC result will be provided for the combined fleets.

The dinghy situation continues to occupy the committee's minds. We conducted an on-line questionnaire during last season among interested parties to see what changes to the programme might encourage more entrants and more classes but no clear pattern or consensus emerged. Further discussions took place over the winter months with dinghy representatives which will result in some changes to the 2015 programme'. 

The first 2015 DBSC Races are: Tuesday 28th April, Thursday 23rd April and Saturday 25th April. The last races of the season will be: Tuesday 25th August, Thursday 27th August
Saturday 26th Sept.

#sid – Sailing in Dublin Club (SID Club) has just acquired an additional cruising boat to add to its growing fleet writes Jessica O'Donnell. Silver Wind, a 35ft Sun Odyssey boat, was purchased thanks to the assistance of a grant from the Government's Sports Capital scheme with the balance paid from Club funds. SID put together dedicated grant and boat acquisition sub-committees drawn from club members and they put much hard work into securing this important new acquisition. The new boat, which was purchased with the aim of increasing participation in sailing, has been enthusiastically welcomed by SID's growing club membership.

Since its foundation thirty years ago, Sailing in Dublin Club has gone from strength to strength and its current fleet includes Laser Vagos; Ruff Diamond, a Ruffian 23; Obsession, a Sigma 33 boat, and now an additional cruising boat, Silver Wind. As a sailing collective, SID offers wonderful opportunities for racing and cruising without someone having to own their own boat. Its volunteer ethos means that there is also a pool of members to also draw upon to help with, and therefore offering more opportunities to learn more about, boat maintenance.

SID regularly participates in the DBSC series of races throughout the year, races in the challenging Irish Offshore ISORA races as well as Regattas in Dun Laoghaire and elsewhere close to Dublin. The Club's cruising ambitions have grown impressively and in 2015 SID has an exciting cruising programme which will see members sail in cruises along the east, south and west coast of Ireland stopping off in the likes of Dunmore East, Crosshaven, Baltimore, Dingle and Galway along the way. There are also plenty of shorter cruises and days sails closer to home against the backdrop of stunning Dublin Bay. With the new boat, there is now even more comfort and enhanced features for members when cruising. This cruising aspect is only one part of a vibrant club that also has an active dinghy section so there is certainly something for everyone!

While not a sailing school, there is a strong emphasis in SID on encouraging members to up-skill through their participation in recognised sail training provided by sailing schools around Ireland and abroad. A volunteer Training Officer and training sub-committee regularly update members on the availability of approved sail training courses whether related to VHF, First Aid, Sea Survival skills, operating a powerboat or other relative subjects. Club members, too, are happy to share their skills with others on different rungs of the sailing ladder and such co-operation and opportunities for sailing development from competent crew to skippering is one of the Club's most attractive features.

As a small and friendly club, there are opportunities for socializing after sails and throughout the year at Club dinners, BBQs and other events. With two female Commodores in succession the Club is also leading the way in promoting 'women on the water'. SID's excellent value – the annual membership subscription is only €370 – and variety and extent of sailing opportunities has seen the Club's membership grow impressively year on year. New members are always welcome and for anyone who would like to avail of a Guest Sail with SID, they can do so by going to the Club's website www.sailingindublin.ie The cost of a Guest Sail is only €40 and is redeemable against full membership subscription should a person wish to join the Club. With the bright evenings and summer approaching it is definitely time to get out sailing! To find out more about SID and what it has to offer click www.sailingindublin.ie 

#dinghycharter – At the end of the 2014 summer sailing season as we started to look towards the winter racing series and talk of the 1720s racing in the Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Turkey Shoot and Spring Series writes Kenneth Rumball. Our dinghy sailors started to ask what was for them? A bit of head scratching and it was decided that the INSS would charter out our fleets of Lasers and double-handed dinghies to both our junior and adult sailors. Not only would these sailors benefit from having access to a boat to race in but we also supplied an INSS support boat manned by Glyn Williams to give that extra bit of security and also to act as a coach boat giving feedback to our sailors and helping them to progress their sailing. The support boat was also there to support some of our 'own boat' sailors also giving them an extra helping hand.

The 2014-2015 series has been a huge success for our sailors, a shaky start last October where a lot of our sailors who had never raced before all of a sudden were thrown in the deep end and on a race track before they knew where they were. Kenneth and Alexander Rumball who raced in the Fireball and RS400 classes respectively were initially on hand to give helpful hints and advice after races and encourage all sailors along.

It has been fantastic to watch the progress of all our sailors throughout the series which culminated today in the final prize giving of the 2014-2015 series. There were some claims to Silverware from the INSS team with Lorcan Tighe claiming the first Feva trophy in the PY class, Alexander Rumball claiming third in the RS class and Kenneth Rumball and Brian Byrne claiming the overall Fireball trophy.

Plans are already a foot for the DBSC summer racing series, with our fleet available for charter.

Alexander Rumball who claimed third overall in the RS Class

Loran Tighe of the INSS claims the Feva Trophy

#inss – Nerves of anticipation on board Team INSS yesterday morning as our Race Training Programme got towed out in no wind to the start line of the added race to the Rathfarnham Ford DBSC Spring Series writes Kenneth Rumball of INSS. Team INSS were lying joint second overall going in to the last race with only a point to gain to win the series overall.

The team got out to the race course early as per series co-ordinator Fintan Cairn's instructions to observe a minutes silence in honour of Caroline Leonard prior to the last race.

With a light easterly breeze building Fintan and team wasted no time in laying a quick windward leeward course aided by the Team INSS support RIB to get the windward mark laid quickly. A favoured committee boat bias on the start line saw 'Third Time Lucky' (helmed by Ben Cooke), Team INSS and 'Wolfe' (RstGYC) all coming away tightly bunched from the start line. The two 1720s from the Royal St George tacked off early after the start toward the East Pier with Third Time Lucky, Team INSS and Lady A (RIYC helmed by Collie Byrne) all continuing on starboard tack. Team INSS was the first to peel off and on the return cross it was apparent the right hand side was more favourable as the two boat from the Royal St George crossed ahead of Team INSS, Third Time Lucy and Lady A. Merlin and Wolfe rounded the top mark first and second, Team INSS in third.

Team INSS put in a quick gybe after getting the kite up and settled. Sailing into slightly more breeze, Team INSS accelerated ahead and on gybing back into the leeward mark, Team INSS crossed comfortably ahead of the other 1720s. The second beat was quite uneventful with little place changing as Team INSS aimed to capitalise on their advantage. Heading downwind to the leeward mark with minutes before rounding, the signal was give from the committee boat Freebird for a shortened course. Just crossing the line, Team INSS managed to pass the lead Flying Fifteen to claim Line Honours for the days racing and with that the 2015 Rathfarnham Ford DBSC Spring Series.

This was a great achievement for the clients on board our race training programme. It also marks a great start to the Irish National Sailing Schools Cruiser race Training Programme in conjunction with the ISA and ICRA.

With the purchase of Martin Breen's 'Lynx Racing' the Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School can now provide the same high quality race training on board a state of the art cruiser racer covering various roles such as bow in greater detail. The purchase of Lynx also see the Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School as the newest Royal Yachting Association cruising school offering all cruising courses including Yachtmaster courses.

#springchicken – Going into the last race of Dublin Bay Sailing Club's 2015 Rathfarnham Ford Spring Chicken Series, the Beneteau Oceanis 36 Calypso continues to hold a single point lead over joint second placed boats, the 1720 sportsboat from the Irish National Sailing Club and the J109 Joker II from the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Full results, start times and ECHO handicaps are downloadable below.

The Spring Chicken series prize-giving that has attracted a 38–boat fleet for the six week series will be held at the National Yacht Club next Sunday. 

Race organiser Fintan Cairns has advised competitors that onboard the committee vessel, Freebird, DBSC is to 'mark the passing of one of its own. DBSC stalwart and crew-boss Caroline Leonard, who died last week, is to be remembered on–the–water prior to racing. Cairns has asked all boats to be in the starting area for 1000. Instructions are to be broadcast on Ch.74

#dbsc – Calypso, a Beneteau Oceanis 36, leads a 38–boat fleet by a single point after five races sailed in DBSC's Spring Chicken cruiser handicap series. After a discard has been applied there is a tie for second place between the J109 Joker 2 and the Irish National Sailing School's 1720 sportsboat INSC 1. Full results are downloadable below. 

Spring Chicken Series organiser Fintan Cairns has paid tribute to former DBSC vice–commodore Caroline Leonard who died yesterday.

#dbsc – After two weekends of abandoned racing, this week's weather forecast gives a much more favourable picture for Sunday's fourth race of the Rathfarnham Ford sponsored DBSC Spring Chicken Series.

Attached below are the start times & handicaps for the next race. 

An amendment to the Sailing Instructions, to provide for an extra race to be held on 22nd March in lieu of the two races lost, is also attached. 

The series prize-giving will also be on that day at the National Yacht Club. 

#sigma33 – The Sigma 33 Class on Dublin Bay will race in Cruisers 2 for the first time in 15 years it has been confirmed by Sigma 33 class captain Paddy Maguire.

The Sigma's will receive results in 2015 as one design, IRC and echo which will add a variety to their racing and prove a great challenge for both Sigmas and Cruisers 2 alike.

In November 2014 the Class proposed to DBSC that the Sigma 33 would race in Cruisers 2 for 2015 and this was accepted by DBSC. The reason for the change was to provide a more enjoyable and completive racing by sailing ng against more boats in a bigger fleet. The new Cruisers 2 fleet for 2015 will be one of the biggest keel boat fleets in Dun Laoghaire with approximately 25 Boats.

To compete in 2015 in the Cruisers 2 the Sigma's will have to improve their performance on the water. To this end they have developed a very attractive sailing programme for the season including a Coastal race, Ladies race and a ballet race to name but a few. The new programme of events will be launched this Friday 6th March at the National Yacht Club with a Sailing supper and talk by Prof O'Connell "HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RESULTS BY 20% in 2015" to a full house.

One of the other big challenges is to increase the number of crew both male and female as part of the process of improving the individual boat performance.

Anyone interested in sailing can obtain the contacts details on the website here 

#dbsc – Strong westerly winds gusting to 40 knots put paid to both the DBSC Spring Chicken handicap keelboat series and the DMYC dinghy frostbites on Dublin bay today.
The cruiser event was abandoned just before its first gun this morning. It is the second week running that strong winds have forced cancellation. The plan now, say organisers, is to run an extra race on March 22nd with no race on the 15th due to St. Patrick's weekend.

#laser – As 40 Laser dinghies enter the last few weeks of typically close racing in the perennial DMYC Frostbite series, dinghy sailors are looking forward to the warmer months, especially after some subtle but significant changes by Dublin Bay Sailing Club writes our Dublin Bay Laser fleet correspondent.

DBSC has been engaged in lengthy discussions with all dinghy classes and there are a few key format tweaks, including two new classes in the shape of the Laser (previously in PY) and the RS 200/400. The idea for Lasers is to focus everybody on Tuesday evenings for club racing, thereby freeing up weekends for other sailing (eg, Laser regattas or other DBSC classes) or indeed for family obligations. Some other DBSC dinghy classes, however, stick with the tried and trusted Saturday plus Tuesday format. Horses for courses and Hats Off to DBSC for a flexible approach.

Download poster below for more details of the new initiative.

But one thing's for sure ; the simple Laser formula is as popular as ever. A perfectly competitive boat is just €2k and the associated costs are very low. The healthy exercise from hiking and working a Laser is catching the Fitness wave too and makes the single-hander a popular lifestyle choice for sailors who also cycle, run or whatever. In anything over 5 knots it's the ultimate full body workout ! In the last 18 months we're also seeing young graduates from the vibrant DL scene for the smaller 4.7 and Radial rigs. How great it is to see them transition into the local racing scene. Many of these younger sailors - like us older types (!) - are inspired by the international exploits of the Waterfront's own Annalise Murphy and Finn Lynch, who can be seen out training on the Bay, using exactly the same equipment as the rest of us.

So....Get that Laser out of the garden, or don't put it away after the Frostbites ! Join us on Dublin Bay for glorious Tuesday night racing and other events highlighted in the attachment. We want to see all ages and ability levels. We'll even lay on some coaching and we'll definitely meet up for a drink after racing each Tuesday.