The AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Turkey Shoot completed its second race on Sunday morning (8 November), despite steadily fading winds that later forced the cancellation of afternoon dinghy racing at Dun Laoghaire.
Race officer and DBSC Vice Commodore Brian Mathews faced a tricky forecast, with light north-westerly winds initially blowing from 300 degrees before shifting towards 270 degrees.
Mathews set a course with a laid weather mark, retaining the option of using the outfall buoy if the wind shift persisted.
The fleet was sent away with a 10-degree starting-line bias designed to keep competitors clear of the committee boat, although Mathews observed that approximately 90 per cent ignored the advantage.
As racing progressed, the breeze steadily weakened from 8.5 knots to 7.5 knots and eventually 6.5 knots.
With conditions deteriorating, the race committee shortened the windward-leeward course at the leeward mark, allowing the second race of the winter series to be completed.
An SB20 took line honours, followed by a Beneteau 31.7 in second place and a 1720 sportsboat in third. All but two boats finished. These are finishing-order observations, not confirmed handicap results.
Frostbites Series cancelled
The morning's successful racing contrasted with conditions later in the day, when the Viking Marine DMYC Frostbite Series at Dun Laoghaire was cancelled because of insufficient wind.
The contrasting fortunes of the two fleets highlighted the narrow window of sailable conditions on Dublin Bay, with the Turkey Shoot race committee's decision to shorten course proving decisive in getting Race Two completed.
The 70-boat entry for Race Two follows last week's opening-race victory by Running Wild. The seven-race series continues on Sunday mornings until 13 December. Results are to follow.
