DBSC Turkey Shoot 2026 Opens for Dublin Bay Entries

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

The first warning signal is at 10.10 am.

DBSC Turkey Shoot 2026 Opens for Dublin Bay Entries

12th October 2026

Afloat.ie Team

File photograph of a packed AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot start line off Dún Laoghaire's East Pier. The 2026 series begins on 1 November, with seven Sunday races until 13 December

Winter Fleet – A file photograph of a packed AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot start line off Dún Laoghaire's East Pier. The 2026 series begins on Sunday, 1 November, with seven Sunday morning races running until 13 December. Entries close on 28 October Credit: Afloat

The AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Turkey Shoot Series returns on Sunday, 1 November 2026, with seven consecutive Sunday morning races scheduled through to 13 December.

The popular end-of-season series welcomes keelboats, cruisers, one-designs and cruising boats, including boats that do not normally take part in organised racing.

Racing will be conducted under a progressive handicap system on a time-on-time basis, with the first gun scheduled for 10.10am each Sunday.

Seven Sundays of Winter Racing

Organised by Dublin Bay Sailing Club, the Turkey Shoot provides an opportunity for a wide range of boats to continue racing on Dublin Bay into December.

The progressive handicap format will be used throughout the seven-race series, allowing boats of different types to compete under adjusted handicaps.

The entry fee is €70, which includes temporary membership of both Dublin Bay Sailing Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

Royal Irish Yacht Club Hosts Competitors

The Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire will again host competitors after racing, with food and draws available to participating crews.

The organisers remind competitors that they must be present to win the post-racing draws.

Sailing instructions will be emailed to entrants ahead of the opening race and will also be available on Sunday, 1 November.

As Afloat reported for the series' 25th anniversary in 2025, the Turkey Shoot has become an established fixture in Dublin Bay's winter sailing calendar. Last year's event attracted 72 entries, with the Royal Irish Yacht Club's J109 White Mischief, sailed by Richard and Tim Goodbody, ultimately taking the overall title.

Entries Close on 28 October

Entries are now invited online through Dublin Bay Sailing Club, with the closing date set for Wednesday, 28 October.

The organisers warn that late entries, or entries submitted with incorrect sail numbers, will have their handicaps adjusted accordingly.

Competitors experiencing difficulties with entries can contact DBSC Honorary Secretary Brian Mulkeen on 087 233 6197 or Fintan Cairns on 087 243 9208.

Published in Turkey Shoot, 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).