Yachts From Sligo and Waterford Will Race in Bumper Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series

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

The first warning signal is at 10.10 am.

Yachts From Sligo and Waterford Will Race in Bumper Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series

26th October 2023

John Treanor's new J112e Valentina from the National Yacht Club will compete in this winter's AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot Series on Dublin Bay Credit: Afloat

Yachts from Sligo and Dunmore East will race in this year's popular DBSC 'Turkey Shoot' Winter Sailing Series that starts on Dublin Bay in less than a fortnight.

With over a week before entries close, the popular event already has 45 entries, putting it on target for its usual bumper fleet of 70 boats or more.

Sean Hawkshaw's Sligo-based Sigma 38 Wardance is among the runners, as is Stuart Harris's Moxy II, an X322 from Waterford Harbour.

Brendan Foley's first Class 8 Allig8r from the Royal St. George Photo: Afloat

From among Dun Laoghaire's waterfront clubs, Brendan Foley's first Class 8 Allig8r from the Royal St. George is racing, as is Patrick Burke's First 40, Prima Forte from the host club.

John Treanor's new J112e Valentina from the National Yacht Club is entered, and so is Hal Sisk's newly restored Marian Maid, a classic 8-metre from 1954.

Hal Sisk's restored 8-metre Marian Maid Photo: Bob Bateman

Dublin Bay Sailing Club has already issued the advance notice of race for the first race on Sunday, 5th November.

"This is a series for keelboats, cruisers, cruising boats, one-designs and boats that do not normally race are very welcome," race organiser Fintan Cairns told Afloat.

Now in its 23rd year, the AIB-sponsored seven-race series will be co-hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Last year, a massive 78-boat entry gathered for the short and sharp morning racing that promises to have everyone ashore by lunchtime.

As Afloat reported, Kenny Rumball's RS21 was the first entry received.

The last date for entries is Wednesday, 1st November.

Published in Turkey Shoot, DBSC, Royal Irish Yacht Club

Published in 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).