It looked like Supernova (Ken Lawless) would continue her success on Dublin Bay with weekend wins in a blustery DBSC end of season fixture for the Cruisers III class until a broken boom in the penultimate race gave the event to arch rivals Hard on Port.

In what at first glance looks like a repeat of the results from July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta there are familiar name at the top of the leaderboard after the weekend's Dublin Bay Sailing Club Cruiser Challenge contested by 70 boats from 7 classes.

So far overall results have yet to be published and only provisional results are appearing online.

As in July, the J24 Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll) was second to Supernova in the 16-boat Cruisers III IRC fleet, the biggest fleet of the combined classes event until the final race of the series when disaster struck for the Dubois Starflash desgin.

Wow tackles the breeze at the Cruiser Challenge. Photo: Gareth Craig. more on the Afloat Gallery here.

In the six boat Cruisers Zero fleet, Howth visitor Crazy Horse (Norbert Reilly) counting two firsts won by a margin of 5 points from Tiamat. Third was the new J111 Wow skippered by George Sisk.

Dark clouds brought heavy rain but also great sailing conditions for Saturday's Dublin Bay Sailing Club race. The Cruiser classes were racing for Cruiser challenge honours leaving the one designs to the regular bay race.  Results below:

 FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. Mellifluence (Tom Leonard), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glenshesk (L.Faulkner et al), 3. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche)

MERMAID - 1. Kim (D Cassidy), 2. Lively Lady (G O'Neill & M Hanney)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 2. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell), 3. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (C Heath), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Little Bird (N Barnwell)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo- 1. Emir Herr (Liam Shanahan), 2. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Calypso (Howard Knott), 2. Emir Herr (Liam Shanahan), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

The deluge that hit Dun Laoghaire yesterday afternoon did not dampen the spirits of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club fleet who emerged from the harbour for a brisk Thursday evening race. Austin Whelan's First Class 8, Upd8 made the most of the southerly conditions in Cruisers Three to record a win on IRC. Second was Cri-Cri, the club's only Jezequel 116, and third the Sonata, Asterix. The win comes on the eve of the DBSC's annual Cruiser Challenge series that begins this evening and includes the Cruisers III East Coast Championships so DBSC organisers are hoping yesterday's heavy downpours are a thing of the past. The full DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club results for 25 AUGUST 2011

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Flying Machine (Conor O'Gallagher), 2. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 3. Levana (Jean Mitton)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Flying Machine (Conor O'Gallagher)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tiamat (Denis Hewitt & al), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tiamat (Denis Hewitt & al), 2. Wow (George Sisk), 3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jura (Barry McCabe), 2. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al), 3. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Witzend 11 (Peter Conlon), 2. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Carrabeg (D.Martin/R.Deasy), 2. Upd8 (Whelan/McCabe/Carey), 3. Cri-Cri (P Colton)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Upd8 (Whelan/McCabe/Carey), 2. Cri-Cri (P Colton), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

DRAGON - 1. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al), 2. Susele (Michael Halpenny)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. Flyer (Niall Coleman), 3. Snow White (Frank Burgess)

GLEN - 1. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Nuits St Georges (Alan Kirwan), 2. Cresendo (L Balfe), 3. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al)

SB3s - 1. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill), 2. Flutter (Andrew Algeo), 3. Bom Chickawahwah (John O'Driscoll)

SHIPMAN - 1. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 2. Gusto (C Heath), 3. Macro One (Joseph Murray)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

SQUIB - 1. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 2. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 3. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Boat of the week, Supernova, will be in action again this weekend in the Cruisers III East Coast championships. The annual fixture is being raced as part of tomorrow's DBSC Cruiser Challenge sponsored by MGM boats, Dún Laoghaire.

Entries for  the Challenge stand at 70 to date and remain open for the three day event run by Dublin Bay Sailing Club.

The DBSC Cruiser Challenge is open to Cruisers 0, 1, 2 and 3, Sigma 33s and 31.7s, who will also compete for their national championships during the event.

VDLR Champion Supernova is in action again on Dublin Bay tomorrow

Pat Shannon, vice-commodore of DBSC, says that as well as boats from the main Dún Laoghaire waterfront clubs, DBSC has invited boats from Howth, England and the Isle of Man to compete. "Last year we had 80 boats and we expect something similar. We're running it over the UK bank holiday so we might get those boats," says Pat. DBSC also welcomes Cruisers 3 to the event, who are taking part for the first time. (The Cruiser Challenge will also incorporate this year's Cruisers 3 East Coast Championships.)

This year the National Yacht Club is the host club for the event. Hal Bleakley is the race officer on committee boat, MacLir, and Henry Leonard is race officer on Spirit Of The Irish. NYC sailing manager Olivier Prouvier will coordinate activities on the water.

The organisers also plan plenty of fun after racing, with live music and barbecues in the NYC and a party for the 31.7 nationals in the National Yacht Club on Saturday night.

The main organisers are DBSC commodore Tony Fox, vice-commodore Pat Shannon, rear-commodore Chris Moore and honorary secretary Donal O'Sullivan, assisted by a team of around 28 volunteers. "We're always very grateful to the volunteers, they're the greatest resource we have," says Pat. "We have all the equipment, the greatest resource is the people who help out."

Pat adds that there are great prizes this year – half model yachts, made by Marine Model Makers of Wicklow. "They are very special, so it's worth entering," he says.

The entry fee for each boat is €105 with a reduced fee of €80 for entries received before 12th August.

Ross O'Leary marked his return to Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) racing last night with a light air win in the PY/Laser class. The Dun Laoghaire based yacht broker has missed part of the dinghy season due to an ankle injury. Second home was Gary O'Hare. Full results for both DBSC Dinghy and Cruiser fleets are below:

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 23 AUGUST 2011

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Free Spirit (John O'Reilly)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 2. Upd8 (Whelan/McCabe/Carey)

Ensign - 1. NYC 2 (Helen Cooney)

FIREBALL - 1. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. No Name (B McGuire)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

MERMAID - 1. Tiller Girl (J.O'Rourke), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 3. Kim (D Cassidy)

PY CLASS - 1. Ross O'Leary (Laser), 2. Gary O'Hare (Laser), 3. P Keane (Laser 1)

Birmingham's Venables Wins but Cork's Crosbie Takes Third at Topper Worlds, Donnelly and Clapp clinch Optimist titles at Howth. Sharkbait took another bite out of the SB3s on Belfast Lough. Wicklow Lifeboat Tows a Racing Yacht to Safety After Rope Fouls Prop It was a Tough Year for Irish Yachts in the Fastnet Race but the Rambler 100 Incident Shows Strength of Ireland's Search and Rescue Service. On Dublin Bay, Lively Lady Wins DBSC Race on IRC and ECHO. Now that the Toppers have sailed away Dun Laoghaire is preparing for its next big event and the news is that British Olympic Gold Medallists will Contest the Star European Championships at the Royal St. George YC in a week's time.

Derek Martin's Beneteau 44.7 Lively Lady produced wins on IRC and ECHO in Dublin Bay Sailing Club's race this afternoon in medium winds that featured a long spinnaker run the length of Dublin Bay. Martin's Royal Irish club mate George Sisk was second on IRC in WOW, a new J122 design. Third was Denis Hewitt in another Royal Irish yacht, Tiamat, a Mark Mills design. Full DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 20 AUGUST 2011below:

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 3. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al), 3. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Tiamat (Denis Hewitt & al), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Wow (George Sisk), 3. Tiamat (Denis Hewitt & al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne), 3. Contango (Barry Cunningham)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Powder Monkey (C.Moore/M.Byrne), 2. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al), 3. Contango (Barry Cunningham)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Pamafe (Michael Costello), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. No Name (B McGuire)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. Samphire (Marguerite O'Rourke)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 2. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy), 3. Deranged (C.Doorly)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Mellifluence (Tom Leonard), 2. Deranged (C.Doorly), 3.Frequent Flyer (D Mulvin)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 3. Glenshesk (L.Faulkner et al)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Dart (Pierre Long)

MERMAID Race 1- 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan), 3. Kim (D Cassidy)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Kim (D Cassidy), 3. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. P Keane (Laser 1), 2. N O'Toole (Laser), 3. R Tate (Laser)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. Yvonne Gordon (Laser Radial), 2. R Tate (Laser), 3. Desmond McCarthy (Laser 1)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell), 2. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al), 3. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy)

SHIPMAN - 1. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 2. Gusto (C Heath), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Pippa lV (G.Kinsman/K.Blake/M.O'Brien)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 3. Little Bird (N Barnwell)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 2. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 3. Nimble (Brian O'Hare)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo- 1. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien), 2. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 3. Nirvana (Bernard Neeson)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 2. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan), 3. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien)

What is it? It has the potential to be more than 50% bigger that Carlingford! It could be 2.5 times bigger than Dun Laoghaire! It could even be twice as big as Belfast Lough! And it will take up 50% more time than each of the three above! What is it? The Fireball National Championship, of course!

An initial review of the commitments and promises to contest the Fireball Nationals, hosted by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, over the weekend of 26 – 28 August, conducted last Tuesday night after DBSC racing suggests that a fleet in the mid-thirties is possible.

Of course this means that all those people who have had recent contact with Neil Colin about sailing the event will have to deliver on their promises to be there.

In a year when our sailing programme has had to accommodate a two-week Worlds in Sligo, the prospect of a 30+ fleet is very exciting.

Nine races are programmed for the 3 days and Neil Colin, who is wearing two hats – DMYC representative and Fireball Committee member – appears to have all the organisational boxes ticked. The keelboat fraternity also has an event over the same weekend in Dublin Bay – the Cruiser Challenge.

In the Gold fleet there will as always be a queue of teams looking for the podium places. The three regattas sailed thus far this season have each had different winners – Graeme Grant & Francis Rowan in Carlingford, Noel Butler & Stephen Oram in Dun Laoghaire and Simon McGrotty & Ruari Grimes in Ballyholme. However, there are other combinations who have also featured in the 1-2-3 with Barry McCartin/Conor Kinsella getting onto the podium in two of these regattas, Kenny Rumball & Seamus Moore coming good in Belfast Lough, Francis Rowan & Conor taking the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Diana Kissane taking a podium place in Dun Laoghaire as well as Andy Boyle.

In Belfast Lough Messrs Bracken & O'Hara were starting to show a return to the sort of form that made them regular occupiers of podium places in the recent past. Louis Smyth has also been showing a good turn of form as well. Frank Miller/Grattan Donnelly took a race win in Belfast Lough and have shown on Tuesday nights in DBSC racing that when they get the "bit between their teeth" they can be just as competitive as anyone.

The Silver fleet racing has also been very good this year and with new combinations coming into the Class as a consequence of the Worlds, there should be good competition in Dun Laoghaire for these combinations. The two Bens – Malone and Scallan showed their mettle in Sligo with the former also taking the Silver fleet prize in Carlingford. Cearbhall Daly & Martina Michels took over that mantle at the Dun Laoghaire event, while Hannah Showell & Margaret Casey won in Ballyholme. Marie Barry has featured strongly in this year's Silver fleet and will be breaking in a new helm for the Nationals! Mary Chambers & Brenda McGuire have upped their game considerably since they embarked on the Silver Fleet training in Killaloe and Dun Laoghaire in 2010, even going so far as to upgrade their boat to make themselves even more competitive. We have also seen some new talent coming into this fleet since the Worlds – new owners of Kenny Rumball's 14962 - who have confirmed their intention to sail the Nationals.

The challenge to those we have been missing this year is to see how they match up to these new combinations. For a variety of reasons, personal and work-related a number of people have been conspicuous by their absence for the circuit this year and that is understandable. The idea behind a Dublin Bay Nationals this year was to improve the accessibility and cost of the Nationals in a year when most people were expected to spend time in Sligo.

The initial assessment of the entry last Tuesday night would appear to suggest that decision has been vindicated.

The Royal Irish Shipman Whiterock skippered by Henry Robinson was the class winner of Saturday's Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) race. Second was the National Yacht Club's Curraglas (John Masterson) and third was Christine Heath's Gusto. Full results from Saturday's race below:

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 13 AUGUST 2011

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 2. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Adrenalin (Joe McDonald), 3. Errislannan (Patrick Kirwan)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Adrenalin (Joe McDonald)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al), 3. Bendemeer (Lindsay Casey Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Bendemeer (Lindsay Casey Power), 3. Graduate (D O'Keeffe)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 2. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 3. Cri-Cri (P Colton)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

FIREBALL Race 2 - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

FIREBALL Race 1 - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2 - 1. Mellifluence (Tom Leonard), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1 - 1. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 2. As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe), 3. Mellifluence (Tom Leonard)

GLEN - 1. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 2. Glenshesk (L.Faulkner et al), 3. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche)

MERMAID Race 2 - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Kim (D Cassidy), 3. Tijuana (David Stedmond)

MERMAID Race 1- 1. Kim (D Cassidy), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 3. Tijuana (David Stedmond)

PY CLASS Race 2 - 1. Francis Barry (Laser 1), 2. N O'Toole (Laser), 3. P Keane (Laser 1)

PY CLASS Race 1 - 1. P Keane (Laser 1), 2. N O'Toole (Laser), 3. Francis Barry (Laser 1)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Ripples (Frank Bradley)

SHIPMAN - 1. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 2. Curraglas (John Masterson), 3. Gusto (C Heath)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

SQUIB Race 2 - 1. Femme Fatale (Joe O'Byrne), 2. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 3. Tais (Michael O'Connell)

SQUIB Race 1 - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Femme Fatale (Joe O'Byrne), 3. Little Bird (N Barnwell)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Coumeenole (Bill Kavanagh), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 3. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al)

Sign up for Monday's Afloat e-bulletin (see past editions here) for all this weekend's Irish sailing news, pics and results straight to your inbox.

Monday's edition includes photos and pics from Sunday's Figaro departure from Dun Laoghaire and the start of the Fastnet race from Cowes. Will it be Gold, Silver or Bronze from Weymouth? How will Peter, David and Annalise end up at the Pre-Olympics? Plus: The Topper Worlds at the National YC, Flying fifteen South coast champs in Dunmore East, the J24 Nationals from Lough Erne, Teens battle for the RS Feva Nationals in Cork Harbour,  the Cove People's Regatta, The Oppy Nationals at Howth and the Dragon Nationals from Kinsale. There's also the full results from Dublin Bay SC and Howth.

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