With Dublin Bay Sailing Club's final week of Pandemic-restricted Training Races currently underway (restrictions are lifted on Monday, June 7th), the always-numerous Flying Fifteen class have been threatening to fly too high, and may need to have their wings clipped in order to stay within the Irish Sailing limits of not more than 15 boats per class in an approved training fleet.

FF Class Captain Neil Colin has circulated his members today regarding the races on June 3rd and 5th, and states: “We will run the WhatsApp Roll Call, and if we exceed the quota, I will be asking some to step back on a Random Selection Basis”.

With just over a week to go until Dubin Bay Sailing Club racing starts on June 8th, 116 boats turned out across  21 classes for race training on the bay on Saturday.

There were light easterly winds and another lovely sunny day on the water for the Dun Laoghaire Harbour fleets. 

Race Officer Barry MacNeaney on MacLir had a busy day, starting the ISORA fleet at 10 am before taking charge of DBSC's Blue/Red Fleet of 45 boats. This included Cr0 1, Cr1 9, B31.7 9, CR2 6, Cr3 5, Cr4&5 9, Shipman & Glen 6

Other fleets were:

Green fleet 47 boats: RO Barry O’Neill on Freebird: SB20 7, FF 15, Sportsboat & Dragon 5, Ruffian 7, B211 9, Squibs & Mermaids 4

Dinghies: RO Barbara Conway on the Spirit of the Irish Committee Boat - 24 boats - PY 8, Laser 16 over two starts

DBSC has also been reporting strong turnouts for training last week as follows: 

Tues dinghies: RO Suzanne McGarry on Freebird - approx 24 over 3 starts, mostly Lasers

Wed Wags: RO Harry Gallagher on MacLir 15 boats

Thurs Blue Fleet: RO Ed Totterdell on MacLir 38 boats Cr0 2, Cr1 7, B31.7 9, Cr2 3, Cr3 9, Cr4&5 8

Thurs Red Fleet: RO Brian Mathews 44 boats SB20 4, Sportsboats&Dragon 4, FF 15, Ruffian 7, Shipmans 5, B211 6, Squibs&Mermaids 3, no Glens

The second Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Saturday race training day attracted a fine fleet of 126 boats, forty more than last Saturday as the country's biggest yacht racing club prepares to resume competition from June 7th. 

The fleets training today were:

• Blue/Red fleets combined - RO Ed Totterdell aboard MacLir - 1 training race
  Total of 50 boats:
  Cr0 - 5, Cr 1 - 10, Cr 2 - 4, B31.7 - 7, Cr4+5 11, Shipman - 5, Glen - 0
• Green fleet = RO Barry O'Neill aboard Freebird - 2 training races
  Total of 43 boats:
  SB20 - 7, FF - 15, Sportsboats+Dragons - 6, Ruffians - 5, B211 - 6, Squibs+Mermaids - 4
• Dinghies - RO Suzanne McGarry aboard Spirit of the Irish - 2 training races
  Total of 33 dinghies inside the harbour:
  PY+IDRA 14+Fireball - 8, Lasers - 25 (2 4.7s, 6 standard rig, 17 Radial rig - split over 3 starts with max 15 in any start)

Winds were generally a bit lighter and shiftier in the north western end of the bay where the cruisers course was set and as a result, only one race was sailed.

Barry O'Neill and his Green fleet race management team got two great windward/leeward training races starting in the vicinity of the East mark. The wind died after the first training race and went down to just three knots, so Barry waited for about 15 minutes for the wind to fill in and then a second training race began in about 12-15 knots. 

The past week has seen the start of the full programme of the DBSC training mini-series.

Last Tuesday DBSC dinghies had approximately 36 boats on the water. Race Officer Suzanne McGarry aboard Freebird persevered to get a course laid in very shifty conditions and got one training race in which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

On Wednesday the Water Wags had perfect conditions for RO Harry Gallagher aboard MacLir with 15 boats taking part in the training race inside the harbour as WM Nixon reported here

Thursday keelboat racing was cancelled due to weather.

Plans for Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) 'training' mini-series starting this Saturday are advancing with the country's largest yacht racing club updating members this week. 

The vintage Water Wags, one of the club's strongest dinghy classes, have now confirmed that they will also take part in the race training mini-series. 

As Afloat previously reported, DBSC Keelboat race-training will take place on Saturdays and Thursdays with a full programme to include regular Tuesdays night racing beginning when full competition resumes on June 7th. 

The Water Wag class will take part in the race training mini-series

Race Training between Saturday 15th May and 7th June

• Keelboat fleets on Thursdays and Saturdays only
• Dinghy Fleets on Tuesdays and Saturdays
• Water Wags on Wednesdays

As this series is designed to train crews, DBSC will use its regular Sailing Instructions to allow 'training for racing to be as realistic as possible'.

Some Classes may have to be capped or split as guidelines only allow for 15 boats to race train from each class or in each race training start.

Where possible, some classes may have to be split and joined with another class in order to meet the quota. To ensure these requirements are met, DBSC will be contacting some Class Captains to ask for their assistance in ensuring they are covid compliant.

Training is being provided for our Race Management Personnel who are working under COVID compliant conditions which calls for restricted numbers on committee boats

DBSC is working hard to ensure all those who have entered in time and expressed interest in participating in race training will be facilitated.  However, if sailors or boats decide of their own accord to go out without having registered with DBSC their intention and there is more than the prescribed number of boats on the line, race training will be delayed with an AP Flag or may have to be abandoned for that day.

DBSC Specific Instructions for the Training Mini-Series

1 Covid Compliance

1.1 All Skippers shall enforce Covid Compliance within their POD

1.2 Dinghies must be able to right a capsize without assistance

1.3 Boats without engines must be able to return to shore without assistance

1.4 There should be no gathering ashore outside a boats POD

1.5 Should more than 45 Dinghies present for training all training for that day may be abandoned

1.6 Sailors must follow the Covid guidelines of the club. marina or slip they launch from and take personal responsibility for the safety of themselves and others while launching.

2 Start Limits

2.1 There will be no more than 15 boats on a start line. All boats not within their warning signal must keep clear of starting line to ensure the integrity of the POD system

2.2 Should more than 15 boats appear at the start racing for that class may be abandoned

2.3 it may be necessary to adjust start times and fleet make up to ensure there are no more than 15 boats per start. This will be notified by email and on the DBSC Web Site.

3 Training Outcome measurement

3.1 All boats will be given a finish place and handicapped classes will also be given a finish time

3.2 Outcomes may not be posted after each day but will be posted at the end of the series for sailors to evaluate their improvement

Long-awaited race 'training' gets underway on Dublin Bay in ten days time thanks to Dublin Bay Sailing Club that has announced a May Mini-Series this evening.

In line with government guidelines, DBSC will run a Mini-Series this month in order for crews and DBSC race management teams to train and to get ready for the racing season.

The Mini-Series will run on the regular DBSC Race nights of Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. Preference for the Water Wags dinghies that race on Wednesday evenings at Dun Laoghaire Harbour are not yet established. 

DBSC says "Sailing is now considered a safe, non-contact sport with no material difference between training and competition". The club also says "As we have not been granted approval for full competition this series will run for three weeks or until DBSC is given approval to start its AIB DBSC summer series". 

Covid compliant

This series will be Covid compliant and DBSC requests that all participants remember that there should be no group gatherings after each day's programme.

"Sailing is now considered a safe, non-contact sport with no material difference between training and competition" 

DBSC Committee vessels will run in a pod system and all participants should also ensure their boats are organised in pods. All boats should be equipped with hand sanitiser and be Covid aware.

DBSC Commodore Ann Kirwan at the Club's 'Asgard' race mark on Dublin Bay

DBSC Committee Boat teams will undergo training. ROs and Timers will apply RRS 2021-24 and times will be taken. However, we will not be posting the times of boats after each training day, but they will be made available at the end of the mini-series.

As Afloat reported previously, the focus for this series is on warm-ups and crew training after a long absence from sailing.

Some boats may not be able to participate due to lack of pods or other reasons, therefore, performance times will not count for overall points in the subsequent AIB DBSC racing summer series

Registered members

This mini-series will commence on Saturday 15th May and is open to all current registered DBSC Members who opt-in using the DBSC survey sent by email. Please note that in order to ensure compliance, there may be a need to cap some classes. Should there be more entries than can be catered for, entries will be accepted in the order of registration for DBSC 2021 season

Start Times & Fleet Composition

Start times and fleet make up will be decided on Friday 7th May, on the basis of entries and with Covid compliance paramount. Race times for this mini-series will be issued after Friday 7th May. The intention is that, if possible, Course card 2 as received will apply for normal AIB DBSC Summer series, as soon as this is permitted.

Note under Irish Sailing guidelines dinghies must be able to self right without assistance and non – powered boats must be able to return to the dock without assistance.

139 yachts and dinghies are now signed up for the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Summer Season.

Following the Government announcement of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the club is expecting to hear news of when club training and racing can start this week.

The country's biggest sailing league on Dublin Bay had been targeting a return on May 4th. While this is not confirmed, DBSC Commodore Ann Kirwan told Afloat the club is awaiting "guidance" but "would be hopeful for a return to our full racing programme pretty soon". 

As sailing has been described as a low-risk outdoor no-contact sport with little difference in the sport between training and competition modes, more clarity has been requested on the resumption date for yacht racing currently given as June 7th.

Racing in DBSC's summer series on Dublin Bay

DBSC's Hon Sec Chris Moore said the club expected to "receive confirmation of a start date on Tuesday" (May 3rd). 

Meanwhile, DBSC has laid its marks, prepared courses and made arrangements for an immediate start to its AIB sponsored season that traditionally begins in the last week of April for a fleet of up to 200 boats and 1200 sailors on the capital's waters. "We're ready to go whenever", Kirwan said.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) has introduced a new cruiser Four Non-Spinnaker Open Class for the 2021 season.

"The new class is In response to the increasing demand for short-handed and non-spinnaker cruiser racing as reported in a number of recent articles in Afloat", according to DBSC Commodore Ann Kirwan.

This new class initiative is for those who want competitive performance racing without the use of Spinnakers, Gennakers and Bloopers. It will suit those who like sailing short-handed or even fully crewed and want the fun of racing without the need to handle spinnakers etc.

Significantly, furling headsails – often a bone of contention in white sails racing – will not be mandatory.

DBSC's existing Cruisers 5 class will continue to be a separate class racing under their White Sails Class rules that mandate furling headsails.

Boats with a valid ECHO handicap cert, and/or a non-spinnaker IRC TCF of .820 or above and who conform to the DBSC Cruisers 4 Non-Spinnaker class rules shall be eligible to apply for entry.

A final decision on entry will be under the direction of the DBSC Committee.

Boats for the new DBSC class four must be monohull, with a minimum of 2 sleeping bunks, internal seating accommodation for 4 persons. In addition, they must have an inboard engine, at least one head and a cooker

The rules for the new class are below. 

DBSC Cruisers 4 Non-Spinnaker Open Class:

• Boats with a valid ECHO handicap cert, and/or a non-spinnaker IRC TCF of .820 or above and who conform to the DBSC Cruisers 4 Non-Spinnaker class rules shall be eligible to apply for entry. The final decision on entry will be under the direction of the DBSC Committee
• Boats must be monohull, with a minimum of 2 sleeping bunks, internal seating accommodation for 4 persons. In addition, they must have an inboard engine, at least one head and a cooker.
• Boats shall display the Numeral Pennant “4” on their backstay.
• Boats who wish to race under ECHO and/or IRC handicap shall have a current valid certificate. New entrants to the class may be given an initial loading of up to 10% on their ECHO handicap.
• Only a single headsail shall be used while racing.
• Sail identification number on mainsail is required.
• Spinnakers, Bloopers, Gennakers, Code Zero or similar sails are not allowed.
• Whisker or spinnaker poles are allowed for headsails.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Commodore Ann Kirwan says the club aims to start its 2021 summer race series in mid-May despite the lack of clear guidance for the sport following last night's cautious easing of lockdown restrictions by the Government. 

This means the country's largest yacht racing club will start approximately three weeks later than its normal start date at the end of April.

As Afloat previously reported, DBSC has confirmed plans for the 2021 season despite its Winter and Spring racing hiatus and preparations are now well underway.

The club runs year-round racing for up to 300 yachts and dinghies in over 20 different classes.

Kirwan told Afloat, "Despite the lack of clarity in the Government announcement, DBSC is still hopeful that we may begin our season in some form before mid-May". 

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Commodore Ann Kirwan

“A lot of work has to be done behind the scenes to provide the standard of racing everyone knows and expects,” Rear Commodore Jacqueline McStay says.

“The racing sub-committee is preparing the courses, whilst committee member Philip Ferguson with the help of Chris Moore is checking and working on the marks so they are ready to be deployed in the bay by mid-April.”

Entries for the country's biggest sailing league are materialising with Cruisers Five fleet receiving the biggest early entry for the AIB-sponsored Summer Series.

The Government has announced the phased easing of some Covid-19 restrictions during the month of April.

They plan to continue this cautious approach, gradually easing restrictions, while a substantial level of the population are vaccinated during April, May and June, after which, it should be safe to reopen society more widely.

The Taoiseach said from April 19 some additional high-performance training will be allowed, including senior inter-county GAA training to facilitate national league competitions starting in May.

He said training for high performing athletes approved by Sport Ireland will also be allowed. 

Mr Martin said from April 26 outdoor sports training for under 18s can begin again.

He said golf and outdoor tennis can be played and there will be a return to 'distanced sport' but it is still unclear as to what interpretation is being given to sailing.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Cruisers Five fleet has the biggest early entry for 2021’s AIB-sponsored Summer Series due to start next month. 

Entries for the country's biggest sailing league are materialising even though there is no clarity yet on the scheduled April 25th start date due to current lockdown restrictions.

Division Five also known as the 'White Sails' or the 'Non-Spinnaker' category have 12 entries received so far (from a possible 29 of previous years) for summer racing for prizes that include the Burford Trophy for the best performance on IRC on Thursday night racing, typically the biggest DBSC turnout of the week.

Popular J109s race in DBSC Cruisers One division Photo: Afloat

The White Sails have the most entries of the IRC divisions so far with the hotly contested Cruisers One division with nine entries in.

In the one designs, Six Beneteau 211s are entered and five Flying Fifteens. 

Although it had a massive entry of 65 boats in 2020 and another big entry is expected again, so far there are only three single-handed Laser dinghies signed up.

All the entries can be viewed live on the DBSC site here

Glen keelboats are among DBSC's 20 classes preparing for the 2021 season Photo: Afloat

DBSC has confirmed plans for the 2021 season despite its Winter and Spring racing hiatus with preparations well underway for April “A lot of work has to be done behind the scenes to provide the standard of racing everyone knows and expects,” Rear Commodore Jacqueline McStay says.

“The racing sub-committee is preparing the courses, whilst committee member Philip Ferguson with the help of Chris Moore is checking and working on the marks so they are ready to be deployed in the bay by mid-April.”

“We are working to ensure we are ready for the off!”, McStay says.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) 18-boat Cruiser Two fleet has elected a new Class Captain for its 2021 season following its online AGM this week.

The DBSC Cruiser 2/Sigma33 AGM was held via ViCo on 04.02.2021. The current Class Captain, Lindsay J. Casey, welcomed all attendees and gave a brief review of the DBSC 2020 Summer Season noting that the class had been fortunate to have Dublin Bay racing in the period July – September 2020.

The DBSC Cruisers Two fleet comprises a mix of popular yacht designs including Sigma 33s, Corby 26s, X99s, and J97s among others. 

Lindsay congratulated DBSC for the expertise and dedication of their volunteers in organising racing in such difficult and uncertain circumstances. Despite the relatively short season, it was enjoyed and appreciated by all who participated. He thanked the Race officers and all the volunteers on Mac Lir.

The DBSC Cruisers Two (2597) Windjammer (Lindsay J. Casey/ Denis Power) from the RStGYC Photo: Afloat

Lindsay also advised that he was standing down as Class Captain. He welcomed the newly elected Class Captain, Frank Cleere, wishing him every success. Frank is a very keen yachtsman with approximately 20 year's sailing experience since he started sailing when he was 9 years old. He has had considerable experience racing in Cruisers 2 as a member of the J97 Windjammer team since 2017 and previously with Bendemeer from 2009. He also has experience in DBSC Cruisers 1; DBSC Sportboat fleet; 1720 campaigns; three very successful Round Ireland campaigns; and five consecutive years winning ISORA IRC Class 2.

Commenting on his election, Frank said “I am delighted and honoured to be elected the Cruiser 2/Sigma 33 Class Captain. I’d like to thank the outgoing Class Captain for maintaining a firm hand on the tiller. I’m looking forward to what will hopefully be an exciting, enjoyable, competitive and safe DBSC 2021 Summer Season with more time on the water when compared with the 2020 Season. Liaising with DBSC is an important aspect of a class captain’s brief and will continue with what has been a very successful dialogue to date.”