Seventeen Flying Fifteens turned out on a sunny Saturday afternoon for two races in the DBSC Series with Gerry Ryan & John McAree winning the first victory in their new boat IRL 4045, Ian Mathews & Keith Poole won the other race but the winner of the day with two seconds was David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne.

Race 1: the tide was coming in and the wind from the E-NE, Mulvin went partially into the middle and then to the right where he was just ahead of Gorman and Mathews at the weather mark. There were not many opportunities for catching up but on the second beat Mathews went more left and took the lead at the weather mark to win the race, Mulvin stayed second with Colin and Mulligan getting in ahead of Gorman who had gone to the right in search of wind on the run to the finish.

For Race 2 the winds had shifted to the NE and the PRO reset the course. The big question was would it flick back? Those on the right including Gorman and the Cahill brothers hoped it would but it was not to be as Ryan and Mulligan on the left came into the weather mark just ahead of Mulvin. On the second beat Gorman had gained and moved into second only to lose it by hitting the weather mark and doing turns. On the run Mulvin persevered and passed Mulligan as they both stayed uptide on the left, meanwhile Ryan was more on the right and when he went around the right gate he had a lift and wind and was soon in a comfortable lead he was not to lose.
Thanks to the PRO and his team who did a greta job on the day in difficult conditions, in particular he kept the fleet informed of his plans as the wind remained shifty and light. John O Sulllivan & Ken sported the yellow spinnaker and true to form they stayed in the peleton!

This Thursday the DBSC series continues.

Strangford Lough didn’t disappoint the Irish Flying Fifteen fleet at the weekend with the usual mixture of sunshine, wind, no wind, tides in both directions, thunder, lightning and hail stones as big as marbles and a bit of sailing thrown into the mix!

The Flying Fifteen Northern Championships was hosted by Portaferry Sailing Club at the weekend and was won by former World Champion and guest UK helm Charles Apthorp with Alan Green (NYC) crewing. Ian Mathews & Keith Poole were second with Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly (NYC) a close third.

On Saturday the wind settled to be reasonably steady from the sw and there were three races. In race 1 Gorman was out of the blocks quickly and led all the way, Mathews was second with .McCleery third and Apthorp fifth after having to do penalty turns. The wind was holding and the right was generally favoured, Apthorp won Race 2 with Mathews second again after gybsetting on the run to get inside Gorman who finished third with Brien Willis fourth. Shortly after Race 3 got going, Gorman got stuck on the second row as most sailed on, surprisingly no one was over the line. Gorman cut out to the right to get clear wind and work the shifts and came in second behind Apthorp at the weather mark. It was a triangle course and Apthorp went too high looking for the mark allowing Gorman to take the lead. It was short lived as Apthorp passed him at the gybe mark, a bit of rustiness in the crewing! It is strange that triangles are been taken out of club racing and then when we go to regional events we end up doing something we don’t practice, we live and learn!. On to the next beat, Gorman was flying and took the lead again but again it was not to last downwind. Apthorp won by a couple of boat lengths from Gorman with McKee and Darren Martin third and Mathews fourth. Over night it was Gorman just ahead of Apthorp with Mathews a close third- all to play for on Sunday with two races and a discard to come into the equation.

Sunday started off with little or no wind, ir was difficult for the PRO and each time he set a course and started the sequence it shifted and the AP went up. Eventually he started with the zephre of wind from Killleagh in the west. It was adrift up the beat, at one stage Ben Mulligan was flying over the glass like pond, soon spinakers went up and yet the ‘race’ went on, Apthorp, Mathews, Willis and Gorman all arrived at the weather . . or was it the leeward mark together but then it changed into a run as the wind filled in, Andy & Rory Martin who are back in the fleet were flying out on the right. The course was strangly shortened while there was wind, you could have thrown a blanket over the first six boats but it was Apthorp who continued his good form to win, Willis was second, Mathews third, the Martin boys fourth and Gorman suffered in sixth place.

The forecasted wind from the south slowly made its way up from the south and Race 5 got going after the course was reset. Gorman, the holder, still had a chance if he won the race but it was not to be as he had a poor start and got stuck in a pile up at the committee boat end, unfortunate as Apthorp also had a poor start. On the first beat right seemed to pay with McKee leading from Shane McCarthy and the Martin brothers and Ian Smith. The second beat the left paid, Apthorp was making inroads and moved to third, that was the way it was to stay and this was enough for Apthorp & Green to deservedly win the event which is the oldest Flying Fifteen trophy in the land. As the fleet headed back towards Portaferry the heavens opened with thunder and hailstones pounding on to the frozen crews, it was a sight and sound to behold!

As this year is the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Flying Fifteen Association of Ireland its first President and Flying Fifteen stalwart Jim Rodgers presented the prizes to the Gold fleet while Colin Coffey also a member of the original committee presented the prizes to the Silver and Bronze Fleet winners.

Special thanks to the PRO and his team who did a great job in really difficult conditions, to Shane, Peter, Jo and all the local sailors and volenteer’s who made the event happen. It’s always a pleasure to go to Portaferry which is one of the friendliest clubs in the country. Those who didn’t travel missed out on a great weekend.

Thursday evening presented a strong westerly wind with flood tide making a good Dublin Bay chop and wet sailing conditions on a Flying Ffteen. On the way out to “Freebird” the DBSC flag ship, some of the spinnaker issues the SB’s experienced were a signal for the conditions out on the bay.

Off the line and into the first beat to Harbour mark the boats at the Committee Boat end had the advantage and were making good way. First around the weather mark was “Rollercoaster” closely followed by “Ignis Caput” ” (your scribe is advised of the translation “Fire Ahead”) and followed by “Hi Fibre”. The broad reach to Omega was just flying fifteen sailing at its best. Around Omega and a wobbly run to Poldy with the fleet closing in on the Dragons. Once around Poldy and a beat back to Omega and back out to Poldy followed by a long beat to Bay mark. It was on this leg that “Flyer” made up a number of places and “Rhubarb” lost her boom horse line requiring a run away on the beat to sort the problem.

Once around Bay a beat back out to East and on to the finish in the direction of the harbour. “Ignis Caput” (David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne) got the gun with “Hi Fibre” second and “Flyer” third. Another excellent evening course set by the DBSC “Freebird” team. Ashore there was much activity as boats were packing up to head to the Northern Championships at Portaferry.

Read more: Full DBSC Thursday results

The Flying Fifteen Northern Championships will take place in Strangford Lough this weekend and will be hosted by Portaferry Sailing Club. There should be some great racing as up to twenty boats are expected in what is the first regional event of the season.

Favourites will be UK guest helm Charles Apthorp sailing with Alan Green (NYC) but current holders and National champions Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly (NYC) as well as local sailors Shane McCarthy, Andy McCleery, Brian McKee and Brian Willis among others will also be looking to have a say in where the silverware goes.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Flying Fifteen Association of Ireland and its first President and Flying Fifteen stalwart Jim Rodgers will be presenting the prizes to mark the occasion.

With strong wind form the North East 18/20 knots and gusting over 25 and a big lumpy sea the Flying Fifteen fleet started by Jack and his jolly crew from the DBSC flagship "Freebird" with a beat out to Zebra mark in a big sea writes our special correspondent.
First around was "frequent flyer" with Alan Green just back from the Mediterranean flying fifteen regatta with Finn sailor Richard Tait as guest crew. With "Ignis Caput" Dave Mulvin and Ronan Beirne close beside them as the fleet headed off on a screeching reach to Harbour Mark. "Ignis Caput" took the lead with a gybe around the mark an a roaring run off to Bulloch mark. On this mark guest helm ex Mermaid Champion Jonathan O'Rourke with Joe Hickey sailing "flooger" made a few places with some slick spinnaker work on the gybe.
Your scribe heard a fella on the bus the other day saying he had been to Las Vegas and it was just amazing, well I have never been to Vegas but he would want to try a flying fifteen in Dublin Bay in these conditions! On rounding Bulloch mark a beat out to East into the big sea. On this leg Niall Coleman and Mick Quinn in "flyer" were making ground but it was "Ignis Caput" first around and off an another screaming broad reach to Bay Mark where the Dragons were rounding. Choosing to go on to the pier and avoid the Dagon fleet, "Ignis Caput" tacked only to have jib sheets knot backing the jib and stopping the boat. A quick back tack and with lines cleared "Ignis Caput" was able to keep the cover on "flyer" to get the gun with "Floggger" third and John O'Sullivan and Ken Ryan in "Rhubarb" fourth. Regretfully as "frequent flyer" crossed the finish line a stay parted and the mast came down. See photo here. Thanks to the DBSC rib crew for attending to the disabled fifteen and other fiftees who remained in attendance. Jack Roy set a great course and thanks to the "Freebird" crew for their work. "Ignis Caput" now has the first two Thursday guns.

See DBSC Thursday results HERE

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.

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!

The Mitsubishi Motors sponsored Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen fleet has introduced a new initiative for the 2016 Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) racing season that starts in two weeks time. With a nod to The Tour De France, the lead boat in the DBSC series will fly the eye catching yellow spinnaker donated by the fleet sponsor.

The use of the trophy spinnaker will be spread among the gold, silver and bronze fleet during the season. Last season's winners Niall Coleman & Michael Quinn (Thursdays) and Ian Mathews & Keith Poole (Saturdays) will start with the new spinnaker in the first race on Thursday, April 28th.

The Flying Fifteen & friends annual dinner and prize giving took place at the National Yacht Club at the weekend. The class mustered over 90 for dinner with piano accompaniment Terry Brown who generously provided his talents for a donation by the class to the Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat.
Class Captain Ronan Beirne welcomed the guest of Honour Winkie Nixon of Afloat.ie, Georgina Nixon, Larry Power Commodore of the host club and Commodore Pat Shannon of Dublin Bay Sailing Club. The Captain thanked the Clubs for their support and Mitsubishi Motors for their sponsorship of the class.

In between courses class members gave a short presentation on the fleets activities in the year. Alan Dooley reviewed a busy year with his “flying fifteen health check” resumé. Chris Doorly presented his “Magic Moments” as crew with David Gorman while winning the Championship of Ireland, The Northern and Southern Championships. Alan Green reported on the Worlds in France where he attained a place on the podium with third place.

Flying fifteen champions David Gorman and Chris Doorly

David Mulvin recounted on “The Road to Rhu” and the British Championships which took place on the Clyde.
The guest of Honour Winkie Nixon of “Afloat” gave a most entertaining and informative talk on the talents and life of flying fifteen designer “Uffa Fox”. In addition to the Fifteen he recalled the many other yachts from the board of Fox including the flying thirty five “flying Fox” formerly of the National Yacht Club.
The prize giving was organised by Frank Burgess where some twenty trophies and thirty class medals and six ISA medals were presented. The top class trophy the Championship of Ireland which winners David Gorman and Chris Doorly presented to Larry Power Commodore of the National Yacht Club for safe keeping. The top Dun Laoghaire class trophy the “Heineken Plate” for the best combined Saturday & Thursday results was presented to David Mulvin.
The evening’s formal proceedings concluded with Ronan Beirne passing on the Class Captains Cap to the new Class Captain Joe Coughlan.

Sixteen Flying Fifteen’s took part in Saturday's racing on Dublin Bay where there was drama on the water when Joe Coughlin’s crew Ed Ruane had to be taken from the boat with a dislocated shoulder. The drama unfolded on the reach in Race 2 when Joe himself fell overboard leaving Ed to fend for himself with the spinaker still up in a force 4! In trying to take control pulling halyards his arm suddenly got pulled causing his shoulder to pop out causing excruciating pain. As this happened the alert rib crew of Mark and Cian had Joe in the rib and put him on the Fifteen, it was only then that they realised Ed was in trouble, with a careful transfer to the rib he was brought ashore where the NYC boatmen looked after him till the ambulance arrived and took him to hospital. The good news is that he is now recovering, we look forward to welcoming him back when we resume sailing in April.

There were three races, all of which were won by guest helm Sean Craig and Alan Green in Frequent Flyer. PRO Ian Mathews and his team provided great racing in fantastic conditions, more akin to a summer’s day than November! Overall David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne had to have three reasonable results to take the 9 race series. This they did with consistant results with a 3, 3 and 4. Sean and Alan didn’t have it all their own way and racing was close. In race one Ken & Ben were going well along with the Meaghers. In race 2 the Meagher’s led the way only for spinnaker troubles to undo their good work. In Race 3  Sean had a more comfortable race as fatigue set in after a tough days sailing, Tom Murphy was second with Ken & Ben third. Others sailing well were Adrian Cooper and the Cronin’s.

Overall it was a close affair for the podium places Alan Dooley with Joe Hickey were second overall and Niall and Nicki Meagher third on equal points with John McAree & Ben Mulligan. Thanks again to Ian Mathews and his team and Michael Campbell for the use of his boat. Its now time to put the boats away for the winter in what was an exciting season, with great turnouts for competitive racing.

Dublin Bay Saturday series was won by Ian Mathews & Keith Poole in the Gruffalo, Thursdays was won by Niall Colman & Mick Quinn. At regional level the Dublin fleet did well also,  the Lough Derg Keelboat Regatta was won David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne, The East Coast championships were won by UK helm Charles Apthorp with Alan Green crewing and in what can only be described as a very successful season. Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly won the South Coast, the Northern Championships along with the  Championships of Ireland.

Meanwhile there will be a second meeting after the formalities of this week's Dublin Bay agm to discuss FF racing for 2016 in the Bay. The class Annual Dinner is on Saturday, 21st November.