#flyingfifteen – On a beautiful summers day the Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers again with 19 boats competing in the first DBSC Saturday series. Race Officer Suzanne McGarry and her team on Freebird got two races in a flooding tide and a building southerly breeze. Frequent Flyer helmed by Ben Mulligan with Alan Green had a great day winning the two races followed closely by Gorman & Doorly with two second places.
Race 1: Ben and Alan got a great start and led the way for the whole race, behind there was a battle for the minor places, Dooley & Hickey were in great form and in lap two got into second place, it was nip and tuck between them and Gorman but on the last beat Gorman got ahead to win by a whisker. Niall Meagher sailing with Mary Jane Mulligan were a comfortable fourth followed by Maguire and Poole who had a great battle to the finish line.
Race 2: had a general recall, this was no surprise as the start line was way too short for the number of boats. Again the committee boat end had a slight bias, on the restart Colman went out to sea as Mulligan, Gorman and Poole went inshore mainly because of poor starts! Approaching the weather mark Colman was looking good coming in from the left but Mulligan got around followed by Colman and Murphy with Gorman back in the pack. It was only two laps so there was not much time to catch up, Mulligan held on but there was a lot of traffic at the final leeward mark and a large group of Fifteens arrived at the mark together with the squibs. Most tacked off to the left including Murphy and Poole to clear their air, Mulligan went in on port as did Gorman who was in the middle of the group, Gorman tacked on a good line, with the wind increasing and veering to the right it was a sprint up to the finish, Gorman was now within a boat length of Mulligan, Murphy was just behind in third, this is how it finished.
This Thursday the DBSC series continues. Results for Saturday's race here.

#flyingfifteen –  Frequent visitor to Ireland, UK Flying fifteen champion Charles Apthorp, sailing with Alan Green, produced four wins at the East Coast Championships to be unstoppable at a windy County Antrim Yacht Club at Whitehead yesterday. The National Yacht Club's David Gorman and Chris Doorly were second (on tie– break) in the 20–boat fleet with County Antrim's own Bryan Willis and John McPeake third. Full results downloadable below. 

On Saturday three races were held in 10-25 knots of breeze from the west/sw. Being so close to the land it was shifty towards the shore and the wind coming around the headland also had an impact on conditions. Racing started at 2pm,

Race 1: the tide was going out towards the north and this held boats back on the line, the pin was favoured and with the wind out on the left it was important to get a good start. Gorman got a great start and soon tacked across the fleet, he led at the weather mark with Apthorp hot on his heels, Apthorp took the lead on the run and held it to the end, on the second beat Gormans outhaul broke and he was out of the race, not good to use your discard so early but he was up and running for the next race. Mc Cleery was second with Malcolm Crichton & Barry Bridges (SSC) third.
Race 2: The wind and rain were lashing the fleet at this stage. Apthorp won comfortably with Gorman chasing him all the way to be a comfortable second. There was confusion as to how many laps were sailed, after three there was no blue flag up so the fleet sailed another but it didn't affect positions. Chamberlain broke his jib halyard and at the weather mark there was a pile up involving three boats with the end result a large hole in Marcus Crichtons boat- no more sailing for him and his crew Roy.
Race 3: the boat end was favoured, Apthorp got away as Gorman got held up at the start by boats sailing over and not going up to keep clear as they should at the start, despite this he was up in third place at the weather mark behind Apthorp and McCleery. On the next beat the two leaders sailed to the left as Willis, Gorman and Mathews headed in towards the shore, this paid and the three were really close all the way to the finish line, the downwind leg was particularly exciting with boats vying for inside position at the last leeward mark. Local man Brian Willis & John McPeak deservedly won with Mathews second , Gorman third with Apthorp and McCleery back quiet a bit in fourth and fifth place.

On reaching the shore after the three races the well organised helpers on the slip were a welcome sight as were the soup and bread rolls. There was an excellent meal provided later in the club and the revelry in this fine club went on late into the night.

For Sunday the forecast was for the strong winds to continue but on arrival it was moderate, there was an early start so we could get in before the low tide.
In Race 4: Gorman got squeezed out at the start and had to turn round and start in the second lane at the committee boat, he headed in towards the shore but left paid and Apthorp led all the way with McKee, Chamberlain and Crichton all chasing. The wind was up now particularly further out of the shelter of the land and there was some great downwind sailing. On the last beat Gorman worked hard on the shifts and just managed to pip Chamberlain and Crichton on the line. The win was enough for Apthorp & Green to retain the title they won last season.
Race 5 was a triangle Olympic course with some hard reaches thrown in just to tire the already tired crews. Gorman lead at the weather mark but was overtaken on the reach by the heavier crew on Frequent Flyer. After some great reaches and close racing Apthorp and Gorman got well ahead of the pack on the second beat to finish in first and second place in the race and overall. Chamberlain was third with Irish Champion McCleery & Dougan fourth in Race 5. Small consolation for Gorman & Doorly is that they are back on top of the Irish Ranking table.

At the prize giving local class captain and Commodore thanked the sponsors and the many volenteers including the PRO and his team. On behalf of the winning crew Alan Green also thanked all involved in the club and also his fellow competitors who all made the effort to travel to this great part of the Irish coastline.

The next event is the Northern Championships which will be held in Whiterock Stangford Lough in June.

#flyingfifteen – Guest helm Sean Craig sailing with Alan Green won DBSC's Thursday's Flying Fifteen race from Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly with Dave Mulvin & Ronan Beirne in third, Again there was a great turn out of 17 boats on a tricky evening with a strong in coming tide and a light easterly breeze. There was a clean start with most boats below the line with the strong tide, the committee boat end seemed to pay but there wasn't a lot in it as there was more wind at the pin end, soon the boats got into their stride and those who went tight gained,

Colman & Quinn were going well as was Craig and Doyle. Gorman tacked more left and rounded the first mark side by side with Colman, Downwind to Bay mark was a drift but Colman led from Craig with Gorman and Mulvin close behind going into the beat out to East mark. This was to be the critical leg-most boats kept going on port but after a while Gorman went out left searching for wind, and was followed by Craig and Mulvin. Craig led with Mulvin moving up to second, Gorman third and Colman back in fourth,
Boats were worried about the time limit, it would be a shame to go to the effort of sailing and not get a finish, there was little or no wind now but on the fleet drifted towards the finish line. Craig stayed clear but there was a final twist behind, Colman seemed to be moving and catching up by coming down the middle, Mulvin gybed over to cover him but this allowed Gorman who was over on the right to drift into second place. Mulvin finished third with Colman fourth and Dooley fifth. On arriving ashore the crews were delighted to see that the BBQ was still going strong..

Well done to the PRO Jack Roy and his team on Freebird for perservering in difficult conditions. This Saturday the DBSC series continues but many of the fleet will be heading to Whitehead for the East Coast Championships being hosted by County Antrim Sailing Club.

Click for DBSC Thursday results

#flyingfifteen – Frank Burgess and Brian Maguire  sailing Flying Fifteen 3747 lead all three Mitsubishi Flying Fifteen DBSC races on Saturday. In a startling contrasting day, launching in a 5 to zero knot breeze, 17 Flying Fifteens ventured out on to Seapoint bay for the day's racing , to be totally becalmed at one stage.
Then at about 2.20 a radio message came up from Scotsman bay that the forecasted wind from the south was on its way .
Race 1. Our esteemed DBSC OOD Jonathan O'Rourke, set Course X3, a windward / Leeward Course and a clean start at first attempt and off the 17 FF's went up the beat. Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 were pushed out to sea and the still flooding tide by Mulvin/ Beirne FF 4028 , while the majority of the fleet went in shore to get out of the tide. But due to a lifting wind and good pressure Burgess/ Maguire FF 3747 got round the windward mark in first place.
Burgess/ Maguire FF3747 lead for 3 rounds but like all good sailors did not read the course card and were coming to the finishing line, downwind, and saw no blue flag . Course X3 has 4 rounds. So a really tactically race ensued, with Mathews/ Poole FF 3864, commencing a tacking duel (as Poole indicated afterwards, to see if they could break Burgess). And lone behold they did and down the run Mathews/ Poole FF 3864 overtook Burgess/ Maguire FF 3747 and got the gun . A real race for 2nd then ensued between Galvin / Galvin FF 3757 and Burgess/Maguire FF 3747, which the latter won by a nose.
Race 2 Quickly followed , Course T2, was set by the OOD Mr J O'Rourke. This being an Olympic Course we later learnt. Off the fine fleet of Flying Fifteen went up the beat in 12/15 knots of breeze. As the tide had turned Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 did not mind been pushed again out to sea by FF 3970 Mulligan/ Green and again rounded the weather mark in first place , and hoisted the spinnaker very efficiently and set a course for Howth and the gybe mark. They were quickly followed by the rest of the fleet , but could not find the gybe mark.
Out to sea we all went, it was a beautiful sight to see the FF fleet in full flight with spinnakers flying and no where to go . So Burgess made a prat of himself and for all of Dublin Bay to hear, radioed the "FreeBird". and requested "where was the Gybe Mark "
To be informed that, "It was an Olympic Course and read your fleet card" . As the fleet were now racing towards about 30 cruisers , the race was abandoned.
Our OOD Jonathan O'Rourke later informed us , there was no Gybe mark set and he truly thought he had set W2, a windward / Leeward Course. ( He should have gone to SpecSavers). He forgot to put on his glasses. We can all make mistakes.
Race 3  followed within a few minutes and all was forgiven , as we had an excellent race in a shifting southerly breeze , lead all the way by Burgess/ Maguire FF 3747, who to the delighted of our excellent OOD Mr J O'Rourke and his fantastic support race team, gave the leading boat FF 3747 Burgess/Maguire the gun and a rapturous applause which was returned with gusto .
The real race was down the fleet where , FF 3757, Galvin/Galvin, FF 3970, Mulligan/Green fought it out for 2nd and 3 rd place.
As Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 had a 2nd and 1st and FF 3684 Mathews/Poole had unfortunate gear failure, Burgess/Maguire FF 3747 were delighted after some excellent race management and great competition from a super fleet of Mitsubishi sponsored Flying Fifteen's, won the day.

DBSC results here.

#flyinfifteen – With a steady 10–knot wind from SE that never faltered, it was a night to be on Dublin Bay, with 17 Flying Fifteens crossing the Thursday night DBSC start line.
Race Officer Jack Roy told all fleets to watch the ebb tide pushing the fleet across the start line, and his warning worked as the fleet got away cleanly, well spread along a square line for a fast beat down the coast to Bulloch.
Tom Galvin & Peter McConnell (3757) having gone out, rounded first, with David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne (4028) right behind, followed by David & Sarah Gorman (3920) and Niall Coleman & Mick Quinn (4008) following closely.
A close two-sail reach ensued, in which Mulvin took the lead at top of long run back to Pier. Galvin regained the lead downwind, and held on up the second beat.
The race finished with a short reach out to Molly, back to Pier and then to an upwind finish. Places changed all the time in the close racing, with Galvin & McConnell holding on to win, with Niall Coleman & Mick Quinn second, having just passed the Gormans, who finished third ahead of David Mulvin and Ronan Beirne. John O'Sullivan & Ken Ryan held off a strong finishing pack to take 5th.

Next weekend the Flying fifteen heads north for the East Coast Championship at Whitehead in County Antrim. A fleet of over 25 boats are expected.Download notice of race below.

DBSC results here

#flyingfifteen – Thursday 30th April on a sunny and chilly evening with c 9 knots from the east and a flood tide, 16 Fifteens crossed the starting line for the DBSC Thursday evening series, with Jack Roy PRO and his efficient team on 'Freebird'.

With some boats being a little too eager, there were one or two over the line at the start. The fleet  tacked to East Mark, with 3920 (David & Sarah Gorman) just ahead of 4028 (David Mulvin and RonanBeirne) with the latter taking the lead at the mark.

Back to Bay Mark off the wind followed by close tacking to the shore to the Bulloch rocks to avoid the flood tide on the course to Island Mark.

Off-wind, 4028 consolidated the lead as the fleet then progressed to Molloy Mark. Back out for a short beat to East Mark and on to Omega and Harbour Mark on a run in very light airs, with all boatts avoiding the various other classes on different courses.

On this long slow run 3920 took a course towards the pier narrowing the gap and 4008 (Niall Coleman & Mick Quinn) likewise to gain a few places. 4028 got the gun with 3920 second and 4008 third.

DBSC results here

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty)

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

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith), 3. Wow (George Sisk)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Wow (George Sisk), 3. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Ruth (L Shanahan), 2. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Ruth (L Shanahan), 2. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Antix (D Ryan), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Jambiya (Ryan & Lattimore)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 2. Quest (B Cunningham), 3. Cries of Passion (B Maguire)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Quest (B Cunningham), 2. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 3. Cries of Passion (B Maguire)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 2. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain), 3. Taiscealai (B Richardson)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall), 2. Small Wonder (H Kelly), 3. Saki (Paget McCormack et al)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

Combined Classes - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams), 3. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Ignis Caput (David Mulvey), 2. Betty (D & S Gorman), 3. Fflogger (Alan Dooley)

GLEN - 1. Glenmiller (P Cusack), 2. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes), 3. Glendun (B.Denham et al)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada), 2. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 3. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown)

SB20 - 1. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), 2. Sin Bin (Michael O'Connor)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Euphanzel lll (M Muldoon), 3. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

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

SQUIB - 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup), 3. Femme Fatale (V Delaney)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. More Mischief (Eamonn Doyle), 2. White Lotus (Paul Tully), 3. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. White Lotus (Paul Tully), 3. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al)

#flyingfifteen – The Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers again with 13 boats competing in the first DBSC Saturday race of the season on a surprisingly cold day. Race Officer Suzanne McGarry and her team on Freebird managed to get in two races in varied and tricky conditions.
Race 1: the tide was coming in and the wind from the north was a good force three but shifty, the committee boat was biased end at the start, Ben Mulligan sailing with Alan Green got a great start. After a short while on the starboard most boats tacked out to the right, Gorman/Doorly kept going and on the shift got into the lead before the weather mark just ahead of Mathews/Poole and Mulligan who was closely followed by Galvin and Mulvin, this is how it stayed down wind. On the second beat the wind was getting lighter and patchy, Mathews took the lead but Gorman got back by going more left, these two changed lead a few time on the next lap with Gorman eventually getting ahead. On the fourth lap the race was shortened, there was slight confusion as the leeward mark was close to the committee boat/line. Gorman was out on the left and went straight to the line as did Mathews, with no hooters they went back and rounded the leeward mark and then finished with Gorman winning, as all this was going on Mulligan slipped past Mathews to finish second. The Galvin brothers were fourth with Justin Maguire fifth.
Race 2: There was little or no wind now but racing started with the majority of boats starting at the pin and heading out left, Gorman tacked off to the right to get clear air, this worked as he took the lead, closely followed by Mathews, Mulvin and Mulligan. On the second beat Gorman kept the boat moving and had a good lead as he head over to the lef towards the weather mark, when he tacked the boats just stopped- no wind! Mathews and Mulvin with Mulvin taking the lead. On the slow drift down towards the finish, any of the three could win. Mathews gybed inside Mulvin and got the win, followd very closely by Mulvin with Gorman in third. Mulligan/Green were a comfortable fourth, with Maguire fifth and Sherry sixth..

Well done to the PRO Suzanne McGarry and here team on Freebird for persevering and getting the racing in. This Thursday the DBSC series continues.

#flyingfifteen –  The Mitsibushi Motors sponsored Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers with 13 boats competing in the first race of the DBSC 2015 season on a beautiful sunny evening with a nice force 3 breeze from the S/SE on Dublin Bay.

In their eagerness to get the season started and with the help of a strong ebbing tide a number of boats were over the line, some went back and some didn't! The pin was biased but there was more wind in towards the shore. Colman/Quinn and O'Sullivan/Ryan who started at the pin and tacked across were in good shape approaching the first mark followed closely by Doorly/Green and Alan Balfe.

This is the way it stayed for the first half of the race, Doorly got past O'Sullivan on the run down to Pier mark, it was a beat back up to Omega mark and then a run to Pier, on the run the wind was stronger from the back and the fleet closed up with Gorman, sailing with Sarah, and McCambridge moving up the fleet after poor starts. Colman remained in front with Doorly close behind and then a gap to Mulvin/Beirne. Colman/Quinn crossed the line but there was no gun so Doorly/Green got the first gun of the season. Mulvin was second with Gorman third followed by Balfe and O'Sullivan who had sailed a very good race.

Well done to the PRO Jack Roy and his team on Freebird for a great race in perfect conditions. This Saturday the DBSC series starts and it is hoped that a few more boats will make it out.

Full DBSC results from last night's racing here

#flyingfifteen – One of Dublin Bay's most popular one design keelboat classes, the double handed Flying Fifteen, has been boosted with news of a new fleet sponsor for the upcoming 2015 season.

The Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet, which is mainly based in the National Yacht Club with over 25 registered boats, is delighted to announce that they are partnering with Mitsubishi Motors Ireland in what promises to be another exciting season.

Mitsubishi Motors Ireland is delighted to be on board as the fleet sponsor. Gerard Rice, Managing Director, says "Our new sponsorship of the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen's fleet is an important partnership considering our heritage in the sailing community, who use our range of 4x4 vehicles for their reliability and superior performance".

The 2015 season is shaping up to be very busy with the class recently publishing its 2015 fixture list with events in Strangford Lough, Dunmore East, Dromineer and Antrim with the season's finale, the Mitsubishi Motors Championships of Ireland hosted by the National Yacht Club in September.