72 Boat Fleet Sets Sail in First DBSC Turkey Shoot Race of 2024

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

The first warning signal is at 10.10 am.

72 Boat Fleet Sets Sail in First DBSC Turkey Shoot Race of 2024

3rd November 2024

Afloat.ie Team

A mixed fleet of cruiser-racers and one design keelboats round a weather mark in the first Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot race of 2024 Credit: Afloat

A bumper 72 boat winter Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot fleet set sail in light southerly winds in the first of seven pre-Christmas races on Sunday morning (November 3rd).

Now in its 24th year, the AIB-sponsored series is co-hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour and aims to facilitate all-comers in short sharp races.

Part of the 72-boat 2024 Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot fleet set sail in the first race of the series in light winds on Sunday, November 3rd Photo: Afloat

"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.

The 2024 fleet includes some new designs, including a JPK 1030, an HB31, a Ker 32, an A35, a J24 and some new marina-based cruising yachts.

Nine J80s, five J109s, four 1720s and four 31.7s are racing in a show of strength for one design keelboat fleets.

A progressive handicap on a time-on-time basis is used and results of the first race will be published shortly.

Download an excel file of the current fleet here.

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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).