Running Wild Wins DBSC Turkey Shoot Opener 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.

Running Wild Wins DBSC Turkey Shoot Opener on Dublin Bay

4th November 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Taiscealai leads Running Wild under spinnaker during the opening 2026 AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot race on Dublin Bay

Turkey Shoot opener: Taiscealai leads eventual modified ECHO handicap winner Running Wild on the water during the opening race of the 2026 AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot, with the Muglins lighthouse in the background. Credit: Afloat

Brendan Foley's Impala 28 Running Wild won the opening race of the 2026 AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot on Sunday, 1 November, as 58 boats finished a course around the Muglins in north-westerly winds of 10–13 knots.

The result was decided under the series' modified ECHO handicap system, with Running Wild recording a corrected time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Bangarang was second on 1:14:24, followed by Mo on 1:15:49, D-Tox on 1:15:53 and Lady A on 1:16:03.

Valentina, Windjammer, Chimaera, Red Cloud and White Mischief completed the top ten. The official results also recorded one retirement and ten boats marked as did not compete.

Forty Foot action: Valentina (right) and Aurelia race under spinnaker during the opening AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot on Dublin Bay. Valentina finished sixth on modified ECHO handicap, with Aurelia taking 24th place. Photo: Afloat

Running Wild was among the entrants highlighted in Afloat's pre-race fleet preview, which reported 65 boats entered before the opening Sunday. The series, launched for its 26th edition in October, runs over seven Sunday mornings until 13 December, with no discards planned for the 2026 competition.

Organiser Fintan Cairns welcomed the conditions and turnout, describing the opening day as a great start. He also cautioned competitors about barging at some starts and noted that several boats had not acknowledged the finish signal. No penalty would be applied for those finish-signal infringements in the first race, he said.

Revised handicaps and start arrangements for the next race on Sunday, 8 November, are expected later this week. The Afloat Turkey Shoot coverage hub carries ongoing race reports and results.

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Turkey Shoot Results 011126.pdf (2 Downloads)

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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).