#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 ECHO - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 2. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 3. Prima Nocte (Patrick Burke et al)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 2. Magic (D.Espey), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

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

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

CRUISERS 1 ECHO - 1. Jigamaree (R Harris), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Axiom (M.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris), 3. Gringo (Tony Fox)

CRUISERS 2 ECHO - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Black Sheep (E Healy), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Black Sheep (E Healy)

CRUISERS 3 ECHO - 1. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle) 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello)3. Syzrgy (R Fogarty)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 2. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Thingamabob (T Galvin), 3. Perfect Ten (A Balfe)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Cresendo (L Balfe), 3. Paramour (Larry Power et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Poppy (Peter Wallis et al), 2. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 3. Gusto (C Heath/G Miles)

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

SQUIB - 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 3. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS ECHO - 1. Calypso (Howard Knott), 2. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith), 3. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Calypso (Howard Knott), 3. Warrior (D Shanahan)

#flyingfifteen – 13 Flying Fifteens turned out for the DBSC racing last night, on arrival the wind had faded completely and it looked like we might get the night off. As the fleet headed out to the start area a new wind filled in from the NE and there was a nice force 3-4 wind with the tide flooding.

The race was won by Chris Doorly & Alan Green in Frequent Flyer who now lead Series 2. The pin end was biased and in the scramble Colman/Quinn in Flyer popped out just ahead of Doorly, Mulvin and Galvin. The individual recall flag went up, Mulvin did go back but was he the only one? As usual the culprits would not all be known till the end of the race. As we were heading out to Zebra most boats tacked out to sea on starboard. Colman, Doorly and Murphy went to the left side where there seemed to be more wind. These were the first three at the weather mark closely followed by Galvin and the new Mulligan/ Sherry combination.

There were great reaches down to Harbour and then Bullock marks, Colman and Doorly had pulled away but Galvin was up to third place and further back Mulvin was working his way through the fleet after going back at the start. It was a beat out to East, Colman kept to the right as did Doorly but Galvin went more left and closed the gap.

Again there was a lovely reach down to Pier, Colman kept ahead and after rounding headed towards the harbour wall to the left, had he over stood the finish line? Doorly sensing an opportunity to make the finish line tacked straight away. This was going to be close, both crews were working hard to keep the boats at full speed. Colman was able to reach down a bit and crossed the line . . . a deafening silence, no hooter! Doorly

& Green then crossed the line to the sound of the hooter. Galvin was third with Hugh & Michael Cahill third and Mulvin fourth. A most enjoyable race and thanks to PRO Jack Roy and his team in Freebird for an excellent course.

A thought for the day is that although sailing is generally self policing maybe there is a case to be made for calling out the numbers of boats OCS over the radio, not for the benefit of the boats over the line but for the benefit of those who are not over the line and sailing within the rules.

It's a busy week ahead, DBSC racing on Saturday with the Captains prize on Sunday followed by the Championships of Ireland in Portaferry next weekend.

#sb20 – A perfect force 4 NNW breeze and plenty of close reaching provided challenging conditions for the SB20 fleet this evening on Dublin Bay.

OOD Jack Roy set the line up with a pin end bias and Bad (Enda, Jerry and Jimmy), Should Be... (Michael, Owen and Gavan) and Venuesworld (Ger, Peter and Chris) were all in a dogfight vying for the pin with seconds to go... Bad ran out of race track and had to duck below the pin before the start to avoid being over early while Should Be... took the pin with Venuesworld close on their hip. Alert Packaging (Justin et al) and SacreBleu (Richard, Tom and Matt) started further up the line keeping their noses clean.

With a beat up to Zebra mark, Venuesworld tacked off moments after the start onto port and were followed out right by Alert Packaging while Should Be... and SacreBleu continued left, everyone going in search of better breeze. As the boats converged at the weather mark, Venuesworld on starboard had Should Be... by a whisker but Venuesworld had understood the starboard lay line. Should Be... on port tack, passed behind Venuesworld and tacked onto starboard a couple of boatlengths later on the starboard lay line. Venuesworld in turn tacked onto port but uncharacteristically, they had a slow tack putting them on a collision course with Should Be... on starboard. Venuesworld tacked just below Should Be... in an effort to get around the mark in first. As is now an SB tradition, there was plenty of shouting at the weather mark! Should Be... managed to get over the top of Venuesworld and the boats set their kites for a fast close reach down to Harbour mark.

Down the reach, Should Be... experienced some difficulties with their spinny sheets and Venuesworld skilfully managed to get past them, keep their kite flying and the boat on her feet all the way down the tight reach. Also making big gains down the reach were Bad and Alert Packaging. Alert Packaging kept their powder dry and two-sailed it down the reach whereas Bad and Should Be... in front persevered but struggled with their kites, eventually having to drop them.. At harbour mark, Venuesworld had pulled out a good lead and Bad had managed to just overtake Should Be... with Alert Packaging now a very close fourth. A gybe at harbour mark and another tight reach to Bullock mark ensued and Alert Packaging, short-handed, struggled on the reach while Bad and Should Be... made hay of the fast reaching conditions and tried to cut into Venuesworld's impressive lead. Should Be... managed to sneak past Bad down the reach.

Disaster nearly struck Venuesworld at Bullock mark as they were unable to get their kite fully down until approximately 15 lengths after the mark. Fortunately for them, their lead was so great that when they did manage to get the kite back in check, they still held a commanding lead. A beat to East mark, followed by a reach to Bay mark and another beat to finish followed but the boats in front all shut up shop and quickly fell into covering mode, preventing their nearest challengers from overtaking.

At the finish, it was Venuesworld by a comfortable margin in first from Should Be... With Bad a close third, Alert Packaging in fourth and SacreBleu in fifth. Exhausted, the crews adjourned to the bar for some refreshments!

Class notices:

This Sunday is the rescheduled SB sunday no. 3. Please show your appreciation to all the volunteers (of which there are many!) and get out there and race. If you can't sail your boat or if you need help with crew, we can help find people to sail with/for you. The results of the "when to race" survey will follow under separate cover in due course but suffice to say, unless it is blowing dogs off chains (i.e. 30knts constant) and provided the committee vessel can hold its anchor and the rescue crew are happy to proceed, we will be racing this Sunday. It is, of course, at the absolute discretion and sole responsibility of each boat to decide whether or not they wish to race.

Finally, sadly, the SBs are losing one of our own this month as Matt from SacreBleu is returning to his homeland of Canada. Just as things were looking up in this country and with house prices once again experiencing double digit growth each quarter (hold on, that sounds worryingly familiar...), Matt is outta here! As those of you that have met Matt this year will know, he has been a friendly and positive presence in the George this season and he will be sadly missed. Hopefully Matt, you will be able to make one last hurrah this Sunday and go out with a blast!

See you all on Sunday,

Michael O'Connor

BENETEAU 31.7 ECHO - 1. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 2. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 3. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.Espey), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

CRUISERS 0 ECHO - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Wow (George Sisk), 3. Loose Change (P Redden & M Mitton)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Loose Change (P Redden & M Mitton), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 ECHO - 1. Axiom (M.O'Neill), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 3. Jigamaree (R Harris)

CRUISERS 2 ECHO - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Black Sheep (E Healy)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Black Sheep (E Healy)

CRUISERS 3 A ECHO - 1. Hamilton Bear (S Hyde), 2. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 3. Cri-Cri (P Colton)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Hamilton Bear (S Hyde), 2. Quest (B Cunningham/J Skerritt), 3. Cri-Cri (P Colton)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Chouskikou (R Sheehan & R Hickey), 2. Taiscealai (B Richardson), 3. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea)

CRUISERS 3 B ECHO - 1. Saki (Paget McCormack et al), 2. Syzrgy (R Fogarty), 3. Eezee Tiger (O Prouvier)

DRAGON - 1. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 2. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al), 3. Phantom (D.Williams)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Thingamabob (T Galvin), 3. Frenetic (H & M Cahill)

GLEN - 1. Glenshane (P Hogan), 2. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 3. Glendun (B.Denham et al)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

SB20 - 1. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), 2. Should be... (Michael O'Connor), 3. Bad - Kilcullen (J Dowling)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (C Heath/G Miles), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)

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

SQUIB - 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS ECHO - 1. Lucy O (Aonghus O hEocha), 2. Fortitudine (D & A Clarke), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. White Lotus (Paul Tully)

#fireball – Five Fireballs enjoyed a blustery start to the third evening of the third Series of Tuesday night races last night in Dublin Bay writes Cormac Bradley. Rigging up in the harbour beforehand, the wind appeared to be quite squally prompted by rain clouds coming out of the west. The passage through Hell's Gate, between the ice house and the west pier was also a bit hairy, but in the main body of the harbour it was a bit more settled.
With the tide due to bottom out at 19:00, coincident with our race start time, there was a modest swell outside the harbour created by a wind against tide situation but in truth it gave us a dry and fast three sail trip out to the start area.
With the wind coming out of the west, a windward-leeward course of four laps was set with a windward mark off the east pier and a leeward mark just east of the 40-foot bathing spot.
Stephen Oram, joined by guest helm Phil Lawton, (15061) and Neil Colin & Margaret Case (14775) picked a fight with each other for the pin. However, this left them too early and they had to bear off, gybe and revise their starting plans. A boat-length off their transoms, Louis Smyth & Cormac Bradley (15007)inherited the pin slot but needed to tack onto port to clear the line. The two other all-lady crews of Cariosa Power & Marie Barry (14854) and Mary Chambers & Brenda McGuire (14865) were further back along the line, closer to the committee boat. Lawton, Colin and Smyth went off on their port tacks, away from shore with Smyth to windward of the other two. Colin bailed first to head inshore, and when Lawton tacked, Smyth followed suit. It looked to be a keen contest!
Bang! Smyth's main outhaul broke and the advantage was gone. Fortunately a lull in the wind allowed the outhaul to be re-secured and the chase was on! In the meantime, Colin had closed on Lawton but was in the weaker position and Lawton sailed them away from the first weather mark.
The ladies meantime were doing their own thing and combined with Smyth's gear failure, the pecking order at the first weather mark was Lawton, Colin, Chambers, Smyth and Power. All five boats stayed on starboard tack under spinnaker, sailing parallel to the shore. Until halfway down! Colin put in a gybe that, on the water, didn't seem to make sense. We could see the leeward mark which was downwind of us.........so why where they going hard left? It seems that there was some confusion as to where the leeward mark was, not helped by the fact that the committee boat was "off-line" in terms of being in a median position relative to the two marks of the course. Colin's mistake didn't cost him as he rounded the leeward mark in 2nd place. Smyth overtook Chambers however.
Up the second beat, Smyth & Bradley closed on Colin & Casey, helped by taking an inshore hitch halfway up the beat. This left them within attacking distance of Colin's transom for the second downwind leg. Lawton had pulled clear, so these two were the only ones to have close encounter action on this leg. Travelling on a slightly more inshore line than Colin, Smyth was able to pull ahead just enough to gybe and cross ahead of Colin to take the inside slot for the rounding of the 2nd leeward mark. Behind, Chambers & McGuire took a swim at the weather mark to allow their "sisters" to overtake them into 4th.
Smyth applied a loose cover to Colin on the next beat and was able to pull away to put some distance between the boats at the third weather mark. By now, with the tide turned, the tactic was to go offshore for the beat and put in a starboard tack hitch to make the weather mark. With the wind starting to ease the beats were less demanding than they had been. There were no further changes for the remainder of the race but Power & Barry did close on Colin & Casey as the final stages of the 4th downwind leg and final beat were completed. Slightly unusually, the finish was upwind of the weather mark but this made no difference to the final placings.
DBSC Tuesday Night; Series 3, Race 3.
1 Phil Lawton & Stephen Oram 15061 NYC
2 Louis Smyth & Cormac Bradley 15007 Coal Harb.
3 Neil Colin & Margaret Casey 14775 DMYC

DBSC Tuesday Nights: Series 3 Overall (No discard).
1 Noel Butler/Phil Lawton & Stephen Oram 15061 NYC 3pts
2 Neil Colin & Margaret Casey 14775 DMYC 12pts
3 Mary Chambers & Brenda McGuire 14865 DMYC 14pts

Two Irish crews will be in action at the UK Fireball Nationals in Tenby, Wales next week. Barry McCartin & Conor Kinsella, fresh from their successes in Shetland at the Fireball Europeans (Winners Shetland Nationals, 2 x Race wins at the Europeans and 4th overall) will be joined by Team Clancy, Conor and James, in a 40+ boat championships in the Principality. We wish them every success.
And as part of the build-up for our own Nationals, in Lough Ree, readers and Fireballers are reminded that this event will take place in four weeks' time at the Athlone venue. We will be sharing the waters on the Saturday and the Sunday with the Wayfarers who will also sail their Nationals.
We also offer best wishes to two former Fireballers from the Irish fleet, Shane McCarthy & Damien Bracken who are contesting the GP14 Worlds in Strangford. They had plenty to contend with on Monday and after yesterday's racing they are in the top ten (along with two other "Irish-flagged" boats).

#dbsc – CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Capilano (S Soran), 2. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle), 3. Chouskikou (R Sheehan/R Hickey)

Ensign - 1. INSC1 (K Rumball), 2. RIYC 2 (Mark McGibney), 3. INSC2 (A Rumball)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 3. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan), 3. Glencoe (Rose Mary Craig et al)

PY CLASS - 1. Colin Galavan (Laser), 2. Ross O'Leary (Laser), 3. Tom Murphy (K1)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee)

#dbsc – 12 Flying Fifteen turned out for the DBSC racing on Saturday the last Saturday of the second series, there was a pleasant force 3⁄4 W wind with the tide ebbing. What transpired was a total mix of conditions from over 20 knots to zero and the results were just as topsy turvey with the first three in the first race in the last three of the second race!

There was even a number of retirals due to gear damage including Ian Mathews (forestay toggle) and Dave Gorman (jibs sheets), So we had some new winners, Tom Murphy sailing with Tom Galvin in Race 1 and Peter Sherry sailing with Mick Quinn in Race 2.

The first race set of in a steady force 3, Murphy was on the pin which was biased, others including Maguire/Burgess in SnowWhite went right. Gorman did a short tack into the middle and got steady breeze and lead at the first mark closely followed by Coughlan/Marshal in Ash with Maguire, Murphy and Dumpleton close behind. At the leeward mark the dark clouds were looming but it was still relatively light. Gorman, Coughlan and Mathews went left while Murphy and Maguire went far right. The wind was shifting to the right the whole way up the beat, Gorman cut his loses but in the now strong building wind it was Murphy and Maguire at the weather mark followed by Gorman, Murphy did a spectacular broach allowing Maguire and Gorman through, planning downwind Gorman took the lead but Maguire was snapping at his heels till Gorman went more right on the waves and got away to lead at the leeward mark.

Meanwhile back at the weather mark the wind was a force 4-5 and Mathews forestay went and that was the end of his race and brand new Alto mast!

There was more to come, as Gorman went up the beat and tacked on the lay line his jib sheets unravelled and the block popped off- end of race for them. This left Maguire and Murphy battling it out right to the end where Murphy did a tidier mark rounding at the last leeward mark. Third was Dumpleton. Race two followed, by this time the wind had died off completely. Dumpleton lead the way but the course was shortened after one lap and finished downwind on the run.

At this stage the wind came from a different direction, those at that side of the course gained and Peter Sherry, John OSullivan and Joe Coughlan came through as the others could only look on in frustration.Despite the results Maguire/Burgess won the second series with Murphy secend and Ken Dumpleton and David Mulvin third.

With the Championships of Ireland on in Portaferry in two weeks it was better to have the gear failure now, also a reminder to others to check their rigging!

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 2. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.Espey), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 3. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Black Sheep (E Healy)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Graduate (D O'Keeffe), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Quest (J Skerritt), 2. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless), 3. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Quest (J Skerritt), 2. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless), 3. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. A Mere Triffle (P Sherry), 2. The Last Resort (John O'Sullivan), 3. Ash (Joseph Coughlan)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)

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

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

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

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Springer (I Bowring)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 2. Periguin (N Colcough), 3. Fox (M.Moran)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Sweet Martini (Bruce Carswell)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Warrior (D Shanahan), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Magic (D.Espey)

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 2. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

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

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

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al), 3. Bon Exemple (C Byrne)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Black Sheep (E Healy), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Black Sheep (E Healy), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Huggy Bear (Doyle & Byrne)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 2. Quest (B Cunningham/J Skerritt), 3. Cri-Cri (P Colton)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Eezee Tiger (O Prouvier), 2. Yikes (J Conway), 3. Chouskikou (R Sheehan & R Hickey)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 3. Chouskikou (R Sheehan & R Hickey)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams), 3. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Betty (D & S Gorman), 2. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews), 3. TBA (David Mulvey)

GLEN - 1. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 2. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins), 3. Glenariff (Adrian Lee)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 3. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe)

SB20 - 1. Alert Packaging (J Burke D Burke), 2. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), 3. Should be... (Michael O'Connor)

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

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

SQUIB - 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Aurora (Ray Conway), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

#dbsc – With one boat in for repairs and another absent due to its skipper being on holiday, the Dublin Bay Fireball turnout was down in numbers – only three boats made the start line for the three lap triangle-sausage-triangle course in what was the first wet Tuesday night we have had for a while writes Cormac Bradley. This correspondent was not on the water, but he did watch proceedings for this report.

The southerly breeze which XCWeather was predicting for 19:00 was in place and the predicted wind strength of 9 knots, gusting 14 knots was about right in terms of the base wind strength but was a bit generous in terms of the gusts. All three boats appeared to favour a starboard tack start to sail parallel to the shore initially before tacking onto port for a long hitch inshore to the weather mark which was laid inshore for the southerlies. Up the first beat the three boats were in close company, though at the post-mortem afterwards the suggestion was that Messrs Butler and Colin had "fun and games" on the start-line.
All three rounded in quick succession and a fast spinnaker hoist by Noel Butler & Stephen Oram (15061) saw them quickly pull away from the other two with Oram full out on trapeze. Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (14775) appeared to sail a more windward line to the gybe mark and the additional breeze allowed them to sail over Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe (14691), fresh from collecting trophies (First lady helm and crew respectively) at the Europeans in Shetland. The wind appeared to fade as these two approached the gybe mark and all three seemed to have a tight three-sailer on the bottom reach to a leeward mark that was located just off the East Pier.
Butler & Oram were comfortable ahead at this stage and proceeded to sail their own course on the next beat, initially sailing inshore on port tack until the other two rounded – with Colin & Casey taking at the leeward mark and McKenna & O'Keeffe adopting the same policy as the leaders. Once Colin showed his hand, Butler went the same way! The wind was already starting to ease so the trapezing of the first beat was replaced with the marginal variety. While Colin appeared to have distance on McKenna at the leeward mark, by the time they each cleared the committee boat on separate approaches, the distance between them had dropped significantly.
At the 2nd weather mark, Butler & Oram gybed immediately whereas the other two sailed around to go out to the seaward side of the course on starboard. This prompted Butler to gybe away from the shore and shepherd the other two from a very safe distance. Sailing a more windward course again, Colin loses out to McKenna who sails past him but doesn't match his gybe allowing Colin to regain 2nd spot. At the leeward mark they are separated by a boat-length, with Colin ahead and inside boat.
On the final beat, Butler & Oram crossed the course on starboard tack, awaiting the rounding by the other two. They adopted the same approach, but it is now "nip and tuck" between them and at the final weather mark, McKenna has got ahead again. The 1-2-3 remained as was for the remainder of the race with Butler & Oram having a 1:30 minute advantage at the last leeward mark and McKenna & O'Keeffe having 30 seconds on Colin and Casey.

DBSC Tuesday Nights: Series 3, Race 2.
1 Noel Butler & Stephen Oram 15061 NYC
2 Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe 14691 RStGYC
3 Neil Colin & Margaret Casey 14775 DMYC

DBSC Tuesday Nights: Series 3 Overall (2 races) Pts.
1 Noel Butler & Stephen Oram 15061 NYC 2
2 Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe 14691 RStGYC 8
3 Neil Colin & Margaret Casey 14775 DMYC 9

Note that Series 2 was a three way tie between Butler, O'Keefe and Colin, each having 11 points after discard.