Big Breeze for DBSC Turkey Shoot's Penultimate 2018 Race on Dublin Bay

Q: What is the start time for the Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series?

The first warning signal is at 10.10 am.

Big Breeze for DBSC Turkey Shoot's Penultimate 2018 Race on Dublin Bay

9th December 2018

J109 White Mischief going downwind in big breeze in race six of the DBSC Turkey Shoot Series. German Soto 40 sailors Leif Ole Daetz and Thorben Strube were racing on Tim Goodbody's "White Mischief". Ole has moved to Dublin and is a regular part of the "White Mischief" team. Ole is trimming the kite above Credit: Afloat.ie

A slightly reduced turnout for the strongest winds of the Winter series so far saw some fine J109 spinnaker handling in race six of DBSC's Citroen South Dublin sponsored Turkey Shoot.

With northerly winds gusting to well over 25-knots, the well–reefed fleet had a start off Dun Laoghaire Harbour Mouth before a short upwind to the outfall mark off Dun Laoghaire's West Pier, then a long broad reach across Scotsman's Bay down to the Muglins Rock at the Southern tip of Dublin Bay and ending with a tough beat back in big seas to the harbour finish line.

Race organiser Fintan Cairns reminded competitors via VHF radio to steer clear of Leac Buidhe, a notorious outcrop of rocks at Dalkey Island that, although now buoyed, still represent a hazard to the Turkey Shoot fleet.

The overall series leader, Vespucci, Sean O'Regan's Dehler 31, was well set–up and sailing fast in the blustery conditions but a lot of the smaller boats in this class opted for white sails only on the long downwind leg.

That wasn't the case for the bigger boats such as the Sunfast 3600, the J109s and the big Beneteau 50, Mermaid V, that all set kites but with varying levels of success.

There were a number of retirals across the fleet with a 1720 sportsboat losing its rudder and requiring a tow back to harbour.

Race six results and overall positions going into next Sunday's final are expected to be calculated by Tuesday and will be available on Afloat.ie

Vespucci 1562 Overall leader Sean O'Regan's Dehler 31 Vespucci doing their utmost to hold on to pole position Photo: Afloat.ie

J97 Windjammer 1654 J97 Windjammer

1720 start 1650 (Above and below) Big breeze for the Sportsboat start Photo: Afloat.ie

1720 start 1645

1720 luna sea 1584

1720 Zeus 1589

Towing 1720 1798 A tow home for a rudderless 1720

cruiser start 1687 A hotly contested start in the big boats with J109 Dear Prudence (above and below) with Prof O'Connell onboard winning the pin end. FF ace Alan Green was steering "Hot Cookie" (owner John O'Gorman was away at Paris Boat Show). Fellow FF sailor Ian Matthews was on mainsheet with brother Brian trimming the kite. They started one up from the pin (GBR 7536R) Photo: Afloat.ie

Dear Prudence 2754

Dear Prudence J109 Turkey Shoot Jay Bourke

White sails 1791 The bulk of the fleet played it safe and opted for white sails only on the long downwind Photo: Afloat.ie

Juggerknot Mermaid 1889 The Beneteau 50 Mermaid to weather of J109 Juggerknot Photo: Afloat.ie

Downwind Turkey 1950 Tight racing down to the Muglins Rock with the J109 White Mischief to leeward leading this pack Photo: Afloat.ie

Yoyo broach 1856 The Sunfast 3600 Yoyo under spinnaker at the back of the West Pier Photo: Afloat.ie

Downwind Turkey 2191 Former Turkey Shoot winner Mermaid V in the foreground with J109 Jalapeno astern Photo: Afloat.ie

Juggerknot 2069 In perfect balance - the Juggerknot crew cross Scotsman's Bay. Andrew Algeo's Juggerknot had Star crew and 1720 sailor Ben Cooke (standing in white) trimming the kite. They passed rival J109 White Mischief on the run to Muglins Photo: Afloat.ie

Read also: The Zest is back in Irish Sailing by WM Nixon

Published in Turkey Shoot, Dublin Bay

Published in Turkey Shoot

Tagged under

Turkey shoot

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Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot Winter Series

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Turkey Shoot Series reached its 20th year in 2020.

The popular yacht series racing provides winter-racing for all the sailing clubs on the southside of Dublin Bay in the run-up to Christmas.

It regularly attracts a fleet of up to 70 boats of different shapes and sizes from all four yachts clubs at Dun Laoghaire: The National Yacht Club, The Royal St. George Yacht Club, The Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as other clubs such as Sailing in Dublin. Typically the event is hosted by each club in rotation.

The series has a short, sharp format for racing that starts at approximately 10 am and concludes around noon. The event was the brainchild of former DBSC Commodore Fintan Cairns to give the club year-round racing on the Bay thanks to the arrival of the marina at Dun Laoghaire in 2001. Cairns, an IRC racer himself, continues to run the series each winter.

Typically, racing features separate starts for different cruiser-racers but in fact, any type of boat is allowed to participate, even those yachts that do not normally race are encouraged to do so.

Turkey Shoot results are calculated under a modified ECHO handicap system and there can be a fun aspect to some of the scoring in keeping with the Christmas spirit of the occasion.

As a result, the Turkey Shoot often receives entries from boats as large as Beneteau 50 footers and one designs as small as 20-foot flying Fifteens, all competing over the same course.

It also has legendary weekly prizegivings in the host waterfront yacht clubs immediately after racing. There are fun prizes and overall prizes based on series results.

Regular updates and DBSC Turkey Shoot Results are published on Afloat each week as the series progresses.

FAQs

What is the start time for the Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series?

The first warning signal is at 10.10 am

Who can race in the Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series?

Cruisers, cruising boats, one-designs and boats that do not normally race are very welcome. Boats range in size from ocean-going cruisers at 60 and 60 feet right down to small one-design keelboats such as 20-foot Flying Fifteens. A listing of boats for different starts is announced on Channel 74 before racing each week.

When is the Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series held?

Each winter from the first Sunday in November until the last week before Christmas.

How long does a Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series race take?

Usually no more than two hours. The racecourse time limit is 12.30 hours.

How many races are in the Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series

Between six and eight with one or two discards applied.

What club hosts the Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series?

Racing is organised by Dublin Bay Sailing Club and the Series is rotated across different waterfront yacht clubs for the popular after race party and prizegiving. The waterfront clubs are National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC), Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC) and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC).