White Mischief Wins Overall as Final Turkey Shoot Race Abandoned in Strong Gusts 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.

White Mischief Wins Overall as Final Turkey Shoot Race Abandoned in Strong Gusts on Dublin Bay

14th December 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Justin Burke’s JPK 10.30 Request under spinnaker in strong southerly winds during the final DBSC Turkey Shoot race

Justin Burke’s JPK 10.30 Request under spinnaker in strong southerly winds after the final DBSC Turkey Shoot race was abandoned Credit: Afloat

While the AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot Series fleet set off in suitable conditions for its 10.30 am start to the final race of the series on Sunday (December 14th), southerly winds increased to over 30 knots during the starting sequences.

It was decided to abandon the race at that point and return the fleet to Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Unfortunately, some damage occurred; the club's champion J97 Windjammer was dismasted, and a Club 1720 lost its rudder, according to the Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC).

Tim and Richard Goodbody's White Mischief (below) is coming to the aid of the dismasted J97 Windjammer (above) in today’s final Turkey Shoot Race Overall winners Tim and Richard Goodbody's J109 White Mischief (below) comes to the aid of the dismasted J97 Windjammer (above) with a tow in today’s final Turkey Shoot Race

Tim and Richard Goodbody's White Mischief (below) is coming to the aid of the dismasted J97 Windjammer (above) in today’s final Turkey Shoot Race

The strong winds did not deter some hardy competitors, though, with Justin Burke's JPK 10.30 Request from the National Yacht Club setting the pace under spinnaker in a fast reach back from Sandycove to Dun Laoghaire in the strong southerly.

Overall, the series was concluded after just four of the seven races had been sailed in this, the 25th-anniversary year of the series.

The prizegiving ceremony is scheduled for 12.15 at the RIYC, with overall and weekly prizes awarded.

Download overall results below

Downloads

Turkey Shoot Overalls 2025.pdf (84 Downloads)

Published in Turkey Shoot, Royal Irish Yacht Club

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).