The first Dublin Bay SC Thursday Flying Fifteen race (after last week's cancellation) presented an overcast evening with wind form the South East c15 knots. With Jack Roy and the "Mac Lir" crew on station off Scotsman's Bay the spring flood tide presented a challenge for the fleet of 10 boats to getting it right on the line.The fleet saw the first outing for Gerry Ryan's new fifteen.
4008 Coleman & Quinn judged it well and set off in to the shore at the Forty Foot followed by 3665 Neil Colin and 4028 Beirne & Mulvin.
Close tacking along the rocks as the fleet got in close under Bullock and off out into the tide to Bullock Mark and on out to Poldy. With spinnakers set the fleet followed the Yellow Mitsubishi class spinnaker flown by 4008. On rounding Pier mark and another beat back to Island with the fleet again going in to the shore to avoid the tide. Close tacking along the rocks 4008 heading to Bullock while 4028 (Dave Mulvin & Ronan Beirne) made out early to Island mark and so taking the lead. Geraldine and Dermot O'Neill judged it well to gain a few places. Rounding the mark in the lead and on to Pier mark and to the finish. 4008 (Niall Coleman & Mick Quinn) second and 3198 (Adrian Cooper & Joe McNamara) third. Class Captain Joe Coughlan commented he was hounded all evening by Frazer Mitchell in his newly acquired boat, no rest for the Captain.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Thursday, 5 May 2016

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Harmony (Chris Johnston), 2. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Harmony (Chris Johnston), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton), 3. Crazy Horse (F Heath & I Schuster)

CRUISER 5A - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill)

CRUISER 5A Echo - 1. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill), 2. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith), 3. Aurora (Ray Conway)

CRUISER 5B - 1. Cevantes (P Conway), 2. More Mischief (E Doyle & P O'Toole), 3. Menapia (J Sweeney)

CRUISER 5B Echo - 1. More Mischief (E Doyle & P O'Toole), 2. Cevantes (P Conway), 3. Sweet Martini (B Carswell)

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

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

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 3. Gringo (Tony Fox)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 2. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 3. Dear Prudence (B Lyons & J Given)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Huggy Bear (Doyle & Byrne), 2. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 3. Grasshopper 2 (K & J Glynn)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Huggy Bear (Doyle & Byrne), 2. Cries of Passion (B Maguire)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 2. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 3. Maranda (Myles Kelly)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Chinook (A Bradley), 2. Wynward (W McCormack), 3. Saki (Paget McCormack et al)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 2. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Antix (D Ryan)

Combined Classes - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

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

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Ignis Caput (David Mulvin), 2. Flyer (Niall Coleman), 3. Gulfstream (A Cooper)

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

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

SB20 - 1. Sacrebleu (R Hayes & C Galavan), 2. Probably (B Riordan), 3. Sunday Brunch (P O'Brien & D Dwyer)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Curraglas (John Masterson), 3. Invader (Gerard Glynn)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 2. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr)

SQUIB - 1. Absolutely Fabulous (M Kennedy/P Reilly), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for 3 MAY 2016

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 2. Kernach (Eoin

O'Driscoll)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 2. Powder Monkey (C Moore)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle), 2. Pamafe (M

Costello), 3. Artemis (J Giles)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious

(Louise McKenna), 3. No Name (S Oram)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. No Name (B McGuire), 3. Goodness

Gracious (Louise McKenna)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody

(J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank

Hamilton), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

Laser Race 1- 1. D Maloney (RSGYC), 2. John Marmelstein (RSGYC), 3. Ross

O'Leary ()

Laser Race 2- 1. D O'Connell (NYC), 2. Paul Keane (RIYC), 3. Sean Craig

(RSGYC)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. P Ter Host (Laser Vago), 2. S Gordienok (Laser Vago)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. P Ter Host (Laser Vago), 2. S Gordienok (Laser Vago)

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Green Fleet Results for Results for Saturday, 30th April 2016

DRAGON Race 2- 1. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 2. Dublin Bay (G Treacy), 3. Phantom (D.Williams)

DRAGON Race 2- 1. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 2. Phantom (D.Williams), 3. Dublin Bay (G Treacy)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. Betty (D & S Gorman), 2. Ignis Caput (David Mulvin), 3. FFantastic Mr Fox (N Meagher & N Matthews)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Betty (D & S Gorman), 2. Frequent Flyer (C Doorly/A Green), 3. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews)

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

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

SB20 Race 1- 1. Bango (J Gorman), 2. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), 3. Timber (B Glavin & N O'Riordan)

SB20 Race 2- 1. Sacrebleu (R Hayes & C Galavan), 2. Bango (J Gorman), 3. AlertPackaging.com (J Burke & D Burke)

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

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

It's that time of year again when the 2015 season is confined to the history books and new dreams, hopes and goals are set for the new season. Those with new boats, new crews, those who have learned from previous mistakes are all positive and gun ho for the new season that started on Saturday in Dublin Bay. The Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers with 16 boats competing on the new Green course on a surprisingly cold and windy day. Race Officer Eddie Totterdell and his team on Freebird got in two races in a building breeze that cleared any early season blues and rustiness.

Last year’s series winners Mathews & Poole sported the new ‘leaders’ spinnaker but as in the cycling they were tucked away safely in the peloton. This was good news for the breakaway which included Gorman & Doorly, new member to the fleet Neil Colin, Mulvin & Beirne and Green & McNeilly.

Race 1: the tide was coming in and the wind from the west was a good force three, there was a shift in the wind direction just before the start which made the pin end less bias. The boats at the pin headed towards the shore, Gorman didn’t go so far in but it was close with Gorman leading at the mark from Green and Mulvin close behind. The second beat was the defining leg of the race. Gorman was in tune with the shifts and increased his lead, Mathews and Gerry Ryan ( in his beautiful new boat) went right- not the correct thing with the forecast for the wind to shift to the sw! Neil Colin & Margaret in Deranged had done their homework and went hard left to come in to the weather mark in second place behind Gorman.

Gorman stayed ahead to win the race but on the last run there were some changes. The Meaghers came storming through to move up to second, Colin dropped back as did Green but on the final reach to the line after the gate Mulvin managed to pass the Meaghers to take second place with the Meaghers finishing third –  it was all very close-great racing!

For Race 2 the winds had shifted to the sw (as forecasted) and the course had to be re set, there was a strong wind now of over 20knots but it eased slightly just before the start. For the first race of the year Gorman & Doorly showed that they were not so rusty and got a good start on port at the pin crossing the fleet to lead all the way. Behind Green was going well with Mulvin and Mathews in close attendance. The Cahill brothers and Coughlan & Marshall were also going well. There were not so many changes in in this windward leeward course as the left side was always the favoured side with this wind direction. Gorman was first to complete a double for the day, Green was an excellent second followed closely by the Yellow Spinnaker Mathews

Thanks to the PRO and his team. It was the first Saturday on the Green course mixing different size boats, it worked reasonable well but when more numbers are out the triangle outer lap may have to be brought in for better separation. This Thursday the DBSC series continues and Neil Coleman will be sporting the Yellow Spinaker!

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Dinghy Results for Results for Sunday, 2 May 2016 

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Slipstream (Julie Ascoop)

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

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. L Dillon (Laser), 2. G Murphy (Laser), 3. C O'Leary (Laser)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. Paul Keane (Laser), 2. G Murphy (Laser), 3. L Dillon (Laser)

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Saturday, 30 April 2016

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 2. Harmony (Chris Johnston), 3. Extreme Reality (L Balfe)

CRUISER 5A Echo - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Spirit (Colin O'Brien et al), 3. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al)

CRUISER 5A - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al)

CRUISER 5B Echo - 1. Fortitudine (D & A Clarke), 2. The Great Escape (P Rigney), 3. Sweet Martini (B Carswell)

CRUISER 5B - 1. Fortitudine (D & A Clarke), 2. Cevantes (P Conway)

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

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

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Adrenalin (J McDonald & J Balfe), 2. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al), 3. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 3. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 2. Lady Rowena (D Bolger)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Wynward (W McCormack), 2. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 3. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Paramour (Larry Power et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Bluefin (B.Finucane et al), 3. Barrosa (N McSherry)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 2. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr)

SIGMA 33 Echo- 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Leeuwin (H Leonard & B Kerr)

Green fleet results are HERE

With the air temperature in the afternoon of 4 degrees, it was looking like mid-winter. However, this did not deter twelve Water Wags from braving it on Wednesday evening in Dun Laoghaire Harbour writes Vincent Delany.

The breeze was about 12 knots, from the North east blowing through the harbour mouth. The windward mark of the 4 1/2 lap course was laid to the west of the area designated for the possible liner berth. The match was the first of a series of three matches for the Arthur Newsom Trophy (div 1A), Hilpotsteiner Tankard (div 1B) and Phyllis Trophy (div 2).

On the first beat all looked even-steven until it was realised that the Wags to windward were being lifted and the Wags to leeward were being headed. By the time they reached the windward mark, No. 38, Swift sailed by Guy and Jackie Kilroy had a short lead from No.15, Moosmie sailed by David and Sally MacFarlane and William Prentice in No.42, Tortoise. It was almost a run to the offset mark and a gybe to the leeward gate. The fleet were breaking up into two groups, the leaders and Division 1B. Richard and Henry in Polly struggled with finding some of the marks, so she did an extra lap of the course to ensure that the ‘tightened thread’ went around the correct marks. It is fantastic to realise that this noble action is likely to have an impact the final results in September.

The wind decreased to about 8 knots and there were place changes up and down the fleet. On lap two Moosmie contacted the windward mark and had to do a penalty turn. On lap three Swift engaged the mooring rope to the windward mark, and pulled it in until contact was made. In taking her penalty between the windward and offset marks, she allowed Moosmie past, and thus it remained to the end of the race. This responsible observation of the rules should be noted by some other classes in Dublin Bay.

Flags 'N' over 'A' flying from yard–arms at Dun Laoghaire's four waterfront yacht clubs at tea–time was confirmation that tonight's first Thursday race of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) season had been cancelled due to strong winds.

Principal race officer Jack Roy cancelled all racing when 'squalls constantly hit 40+' and Dublin Bay Buoy recorded a 53–knot gust. The London 2012 Race Officer said it was 'gear damaging weather for a first night out'.

The Bay was also hit with a hail shower so there was plenty of sailors relieved not to be heading out on to slippery decks. The country's biggest yacht club has now had to cancel both its Tuesday and Thursday race schedules this week.

Howth Head lost in squall so @DBSC_1884 called sailing off & ate pig @RSGYC @AfloatMagazine. Oh well 7 more sleeps pic.twitter.com/1w1KcoTAP9

— rachel crowley (@rachsail) April 28, 2016

A good turnout of Water Wag dinghies successfully completed their own in–harbour DBSC racing last night.

More moderate conditions forecast for Saturday indicate the 2016 summer season might finally get underway in two days time.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club race officers will be monitoring this afternoon's weather forecast before tonight's first Thursday race on the capital's waters. The country's biggest yacht racing league is scheduled to get underway from 6pm with up to 300 boats in 22 classes competing but 25–mph westerly winds are expected to gust to over 30–mph at start time which may yet threaten proceedings.

Sherry FitzGerald estate agents have come on board for a three-year-deal as title sponsor of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) ahead of the summer season that got underway this week. Unfortuntaely, the first race on Tuesday for dinghy classes was cancelled due to strong winds. 

DBSC’s 132nd season will now have room for three keelboat fleets over previous years’ two.

The popular Thursday programme remains more or less as it has been except that the White Sails, (now re-named Cruisers 5) given their numbers and wide range of handicaps, have now been divided into two divisions, with separate results for each division.