Earlier this month, we ran a successful training day in Dun Laoghaire for all cruiser racers leading up to the busy Dublin Bay Sailing Club season. Kenny Rumball from the Offshore Racing Academy was on hand to coach along with Barry Hayes and Liam Glynn of UK Sailmakers Ireland.
The day was a great success in challenging conditions making it all the more worthwhile for the sailors and, indeed, the great team on board the committee boat. The race committee led by the diligent Michael Tyrrell dealt with wind from the North, South, East and West which changed direction every 5 minutes…. When the rain came in hard, and with a 1500 kick-off looming on a certain Heineken Cup Match, it was time to head for home!
Nick Holman gets set up for the start of Race 2 of the UK Sailmakers Ireland Dublin Bay Sailing Club Training Day
Michael Tyrrell got the mixed large fleet of everything from First 21.7 up to Cruisers 1 of boats off all sizes and classes in one of 3 starts. With 180-degree wind shifts the DBSC race committee were well under pressure to get us away, with Michael keeping on top of it all.
The classes were treated to light windward-leeward courses starting off slowly and getting on-the-water advice from Liam, Kenny and Barry. With video and drones in action for the debrief after sailing.
Retiring to the wet bar of the Royal Irish Yacht Club with glasses charged and sandwiches in order, the video and drone footage was put to good use and picked apart to see where every boat could improve. This was a constructive session with everyone working together! We need more of this in sailing!
Steve Hayes's First 34.7 Black Magic getting his team set up for the season at the UK Sailmakers Ireland Dublin Bay Sailing Club Training Day
Feedback from all participants was that of the worthiness of getting out training ahead of the season. It’s no surprise that those boats out training with us were at the top of the results board after the first few days of the DBSC season!
From a wide range of boats racing in both sizes and differing skill levels, we were able to assist everyone on the course and get a wide range of technical issues, which we were able to iron out in the Debrief after sailing.
Rowan Fogerty's First 211 Ventuno at the UK Sailmakers Ireland Dublin Bay Sailing Club Training Day
Below is a youtube video from the day:
We look forward to working with DBSC to do more training days for their members to improve the racing in Dublin Bay.
