#dbsc – CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Borraine (Ean Pugh), 3. Utopia (J Healy)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Yikes (J Conway), 2. Saki (McCormack/Ryan/Ryan), 3. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn) Ensign - 1. INSS (K Rumball), 2. INSS 2 (G Williams), 3. NYC1 (A Dooley)

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

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

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan), 3. Glencoe (Rose Mary Craig et al)

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

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Chaos (Pam McKay)

Laser - 1. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 2. Gary O'Hare (RSGYC), 3. Rob Cahill (RSGYC)

PY CLASS - 1. Tom Murphy (K1), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor
Duffy (RS400)

PY CLASS - 1. Tom Murphy (K1), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor
Duffy (RS400)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Cresendo (L Balfe), 2. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al),
3. Different Drummer (D Tonge)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Springer (I Bowring)

SQUIB - 1. Chillax (E & D Totterdell), 2. Tais (Michael O'Connell), 3.
Sidewinder (R&R Westrup)

#waterwags – On 10th June there was high pressure, hardly a cloud in the sky but unfortunately there was almost no wind. The Water Wags rowed, sculled and paddled to the race area in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Despite the conditions twenty Water Wags lined up perfectly for the start. Initially the race was very slow. Then a breeze built up to about 5 knots from the north-east. Cathy MacAleavy in Mollie led the fleet heading towards the west pier lighthouse while Frank Guy in Gavotte led a smaller fleet heading towards the Boyd Memorial. As the fleet reached the windward mark off the east pier lighthouse they realized that there was a strong west-running tide. This caused some boats to underlay the windward mark. The rounding order was Mollie, Nandor, Tortoise. Pansy, The spinnaker run allowed the following boats to steel the wind from the boats ahead, but Mollie was so far ahead that she was untouchable.

By the second round the order was: Mollie, Ethna, Gavotte, Tortoise. Place changes were taking place partly due to the advantage in rounding the port side leeward mark.

On the final beat the wind disappeared again. Some of the leaders began to feel stress. Gavotte closed the gap between Mollie and the rest of the fleet. Tortise recovered the ground she had lost of the earlier rounds. Then a new wind appeared, at first gentle (about 2 knots) from the north and then it swung to the north west, and finally to the south west, allowing most of the fleet to fly spinnakers on the last beat.

Finishing order:

1st. Mollie, No. 41, Cathy MacAleavey & Con Murphy (winner division IA)
2nd. Gavotte, No.25, Frank Guy & Owen McNally.
3rd. Tortoise, No. 42, William & Linda Prentice.
4th. Pansy, No. 3, Vincent Delany & Noelle Breen.
5th. Ethna, No.1, Bill Nolan. (winner division IB)
6th. Alfa, No. 12, Michael Donohoe.
7th. Nandor, No. 26, Brian McBride & Harry Croxon. (winner division 2)
8th. Swift, No.38, Guy & Jacky Kilroy.
9th. Vela, No.4, Brian Bond & Mary Ryder.
10th. Scallywag, No.44, Dan O'Connor & David Williams.
11th. Good Hope, No.18, Hal Sisk & Sue Westrup.
12th. Eros, No. 08, Gail Varian & Gavan Johnson.
13th. Little Tern, No.36, Marcus Pearson.
14th. Barbara, No. 8, Ian & Judith Malcolm.
15th. Eva, No.33, Orla Fitzgerald & Dermot O'Flynn.
16th. Penelope, No.16, Fergus Cullen & Alice Walsh.
17th. Swallow, No.40, David & Anne Clarke.
18th. Maureen, No.23, Killian Skay & Liz Croxon.
19th. Sprite, No. 10, Adrian Masterson.
20th. Chloe, No. 34, Kate O'Leary.

#fireballdbsc – Tuesday night's DBSC Fireball race was predictably tricky as one might have expected from the forecast of light winds dropping even lighter. The race committee wisely set up in the harbour and dropped marks for a windward-leeward course. Before the start the easterly wind shifted 20 degrees left creating a major port end bias on the quite long line and making the first beat a reach. The eight boat fleet got quite tangled up near the pin but a few got away cleanly notably Neil Colin and Margaret Casey who led to the windward mark. Those who sailed a bit high on the reach closed the gap but on the run the fleet spread out as boats picked their angles and placed their bets on where there might be a better puff or two.

Where there are ladders there are snakes and several fell into lighter holes including race leaders Colin/Casey. The Clancys took advantage and sailed a conservative but intelligent race staying ahead of the pack with Butler/Oram on their heels. The only other highlight on the course was provided by Cariosa Power sailing with her young son Odhran who was not tall enough to get the pole on and off the mast. In its place he became a human pole standing on the sidedeck with arm extended.

It may not be top class ISAF stuff but it was very effective and the lightweight family pairing pulled away from some of the heavyweights, and provided entertainment to boot on a pleasant Tuesday outing. Top three downwind finishers were the Clancys, Butler/Oram and McKenna/O'Keeffe.

#dbsclaser - Powers that be (and Winkie Nixon!) please take note! Dun Laoghaire Harbour again served up great DBSC dinghy racing last night that would have been simply impossible either (i) Outside, given very light wind and strong tide or (ii) With a new 435 metre pier stuck in the middle of the race course, occupied or not writes Sean Craig. Like the Water Wags on a Wednesday, junior racing on a Friday, Sunday Frostbiting all winter and as with a myriad of other racing, recreational and learn to sail activities, we may see our activities decimated, scaled back and pushed outside where the risk/safety factor rises exponentially. Worth considering is that out of six DBSC Tuesday night races so far in 2015, FIVE have had to take place inside the harbour. Indeed we could have had two more inside on a windy May 12 but for the Cruise Liner shuttle service which, in fact, knocked off business an hour before our start !

The racing round-up is perhaps secondary after that but what a great little race DBSC laid on. A season's best fifteen Lasers joined a great dinghy turnout. It would have been seventeen but (no names here!) one took a wrong turn and went outside the Harbour and another young hotshot overdid his road bike training and also missed the start ! Nice to see 4 Radials out. Off a pin biased line ex 420 ace Adam Hyland nailed the start, the first beat and led for the whole first lap. Gary O'Hare was up to second after a great run. On the second beat, Sean Craig and Luke Murphy broke away and held the top two places on a dicey downwind run to the finish. Mark Coakley was always there or thereabouts and claimed third ahead of the Cahill brothers.

We are delighted to support the Royal Alfred Yacht Club "Bloomsday" Regatta this Saturday June 13. RAYC have kindly added 4.7s to the ticket and we have 2 races, first gun 1130, good après in the RSTGYC after. Online entry and now also sailing Instructions here DBSC Tuesdays resume actual Bloomsday June 16!

#dbsc – Today's Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) yacht racing has been cancelled due to strong winds on Dublin Bay. At start time westerly winds averaged 22kts with gusts of 32kts from a direction of 249°.

#dbsc – Last night's 16-boat DBSC Flying Fifteen race consisted of nine marks all to be left to port and started with a good upwind leg to Bulloch Mark on Dublin Bay. Much was lost and gained on this first leg. The fleet got away 'all clear'. In general, the fleet favoured the right hand side of both the starting line and the upwind leg. Perhaps the incoming tide was over–considered. The fleet were all very much to the right wing side of the upwind leg. However, leaders Alan Green and Mick Quinn taught the fleet the lesson that sometimes sticking with your wing principles pay off as they literally arrived on port tack out of 'left field' to round Bulloch with a commanding lead.

The closest chasers were David Gorman Tom Murphy, David Mulvin, Tom Galvin and Alan Dooley.

After many gybes, beats etc Gorman eventually got close to them following a tight reach to Pier Mark. On the subsequent beat to Island Mark, Gorman took advantage and ultimately won the evening.

In conclusion, the race for the Thursday FF crown has hotted up! Gorman is now Number one on nine points followed by Coleman on 11; Green carrying 12 and Dooley on 13.

DBSC results here.

#dbsc – Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Thursday, 4 June 2015

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan), 2.

Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 3. Prospect (Chris
Johnston)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Bluefin Two (M & B
Bryson), 3. Levana (Jean Mitton)

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

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith), 3.
Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris),
3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al),
3. Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 3.
Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al),
3. Graduate (D O'Keeffe)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Quest (B Cunningham), 2. Grasshopper 2 (K & J
Glynn), 3. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Quest (B Cunningham), 2. Cries of Passion (B
Maguire), 3. Yehaa (Whelan/McCabe/Cary/Cramer)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Asterix
(Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 3. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Taiscealai (B Richardson), 2. Chinook (A
Bradley/P Morgan), 3. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Antix (D
Ryan), 3. Popje (Ted McCourt)

Combined Classes - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Ruthless (Conor
Ronan), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

DRAGON - 1. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al), 2. Diva
(R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 3. DCision (J.Mason/G.Purcell/D.Hayes)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Betty (D & S Gorman), 2. Frequent Flyer (C
Doorley/A Green), 3. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes), 3.
Glenshesk (Walker\Reid\Henderson)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 2. Ruffles (Michael
Cutliffe), 3. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown)

SB20 - 1. AlertPackaging.com (J Burke & D Burke), 2. Venuesworld.com
(Ger Dempsey), 3. Sin Bin (Michael O'Connor)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 2. Jo Slim (J.Clarke
et al), 3. Viking (Brian Glynn et al)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3.
Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Gwili Two
(D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody)

SIGMA 33 Echo - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt),
3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB - 1. Little Demon (Sheila Power), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans),
3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Setanta (G Denn), 2. Act Two (Michael
O'Leary et al), 3. Cevantes (Paul Conway)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Act Two
(Michael O'Leary et al), 3. White Lotus (Paul Tully)

#fireball – From early on in the day, XCWeather was suggesting that at 19:00, the scheduled start time for Tuesday night racing, wind would be from the west, blowing 23 knots, gusting 33 knots, but that it would be sunny with an air temperature of 12˚ writes Cormac Bradley.
That might explain why, at 18:10 the dinghy park of the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club and the Coal Harbour were devoid of any dinghy activity or personnel. A quick check of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour website weather gave the wind strength as westerly, 16.9 knots with a gust of 27.2 knots. It had a more favourable temperature of 14˚, but that wasn't sufficient to persuade anyone out onto the water. Beyond the harbour walls, viewed from my 2nd floor office window, Dublin Bay to the west of the harbour – the city side – was windswept and covered in white caps even though it was slack water at the bottom of the tide.
So while the DMYC yardarm was not flying the flags of surrender to Mother Nature, it was apparent that everyone had worked out for themselves that racing wouldn't be happening.

As this short report is being typed, it is a lot quieter outside my front room window, too late for racing now!

#flyingfifteen – Betty sailed by Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly won the two races at the weekend where 17 Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in the DBSC Saturday series. Tom & Eamon Galvin also had a great day getting two seconds. Race Officer Barry O'Neill and his team on Freebird set great windward- leeward course's in a building southerly wind. The start line was long enough this week and the bias was at the committee boat for both races.
Race 1: the tide was flooding and the wind was oscillating, there appeared to be slightly more wind upon the left towards the harbour, this proved correct as Tom Murphy reached the weather mark first just ahead of the Galvin brothers and Gorman with Mulligan & Green in Frequent Flyer just behind. Downwind Galvin took the lead and it was only on the next beat that Gorman got ahead by going in to the right for more pressure. It remained close up to the finish, Gorman first, Galvin second, Mathews third and Mulligan fourth.
Race 2 the committee boat end had a slight bias and the tide had started to ebb, Mulligan tacked to the right as the main fleet went left, it was shifty and Mulligan was looking good, suddenly there was another shift, those on the left got a lift and Murphy again lead at the weather mark followed by Gorman, Mulligan and Galvin. Downwind Gorman took the lead, on the remaining beats the wind had shifted slightly to the right and going towards the shore paid each time. Gorman led the way to the line, Galvins were second with Mulligan third and Mathews fourth.
A feature of the racing was how close it is between all the boats, It was great to see so many boats out racing. This Thursday the DBSC series continues this week.

#sb20 – Strong and gusty north westerlies on Dublin Bay have led to the cancellation of the SB20 DBSC racing today. The Dublin Bay buoy located next to the SB20 race track showed an average wind speed of 
23–kts and gusts of 30kts from 311 °(NW) leading race officer Barry O'Neill to cancel this afternoon's racing. SB20 Class captain James Gorman plans to reschedule the planned three races for later in the season.