The forced postponement of the Kish Race, with sponsorship from Leinster Boats, from the last Sunday of September to the first Sunday of October was completely vindicated with a forty-plus fleet who enjoyed glorious sunshine and pleasant wind conditions to start them off on their journey to the Kish lighthouse in Dublin Bay. Traditionally sailed as the last race of the summer season and hosted by the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, it was a poignant reminder of the vagaries of life as the 2022 edition was the last occasion on which the late Ben Mulligan was involved, when he set the limit mark at the start.

This year, 2023, the race was opened to the Flying Fifteens, of which there were a few on the water, some of whom enjoyed a prominent place on the start line – a running start under spinnaker.

"The surprise package was the Flying Fifteen of Team Poole”

An innovation this year was the setting of an offset mark which the fleet had to leave to port on their outward passage and to starboard on the reverse leg. This took the form of an inflatable mark put in position by Race Organiser Neil Colin, with co-ordinates detailed in the Sailing Instructions. While one boat challenged the distance from the start line to the offset mark, it didn’t appear to put them off their game, as the final results would attest later in the day.

As Afloat reported earlier, the wind at the start was slightly west of SW and was of the order of 8/9 knots, with gusts getting into the low teens. A clean start at the first time of asking saw the fleet streaming past the mouth of the harbour on their way to the offset mark, with Niall Meagher & Nicki Matthews (FF 3938) and Keith & Katie Poole (FF 4093) at the inshore flank of the fleet.

The 2023 Kish Race fleet crosses the mouth of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Afloat

It seems the wind started to fade as the fleet went further south and post-race reports suggested the leg from the offset mark to the Kish was verging on tortuous so light and fickle was the wind. Indeed, the Race Committee based at the hut on the West Pier and Neil Colin debated the merits of attempting a shortened course. However, patience and maybe good fortune persevered, and the fleet enjoyed a brisker breeze for the leg home to the finish.

The forty plus fleet head out to the Kish Lighthouse Photo: Afloat

From the Hut there appeared to be some unusual approaches to the Kish, which was to be left to Port, but watching a race progress under binoculars from that distance can be very distorting.

What became apparent though on the return leg was that a black-sailed boat was leading the charge home on the water and when said sails rounded the end of the East Pier and a black hull appeared with them, it wasn’t hard to guess which boat this was – Searcher, the Sunfast 3600!

Overall Kish Race winner Searcher came home in a time of 3hr 19min and 15 seconds Photo: Afloat

Searcher came home in a time of 3hr 19min and 15 seconds with the Archambault A31 Crazy Diamond, out of Greystones, second on the water in a time of 3hr 33min and 15 seconds and the First 34.7 Black Velvet third on the water in a time of 3hr 49min and 25 seconds. The surprise package was the Flying Fifteen, “Mike Wazowski” of “Team Poole”, who had an elapsed time of 4hr 08min and 45seconds, placing them well up the pecking order in terms of on the water finishes, just ahead of the Mustang 30, Black Sheep in 4hr 09min and 19 seconds. Other class times were the SB20, “SportChip.ie” of Grzegorz Kalinecki at 3hr 57min and 43 seconds; the Shipman 28 of David Freeman, “Toucan” at 4hr 48min and 12 seconds and the first Ruffian 23 of Brendan Duffy, “Carmen” at 4hr 49min and 05 seconds.

From L to R; Ronan Beirne, Frank Guilfoyle, Evan O’Connor & Peter Smyth, Searcher, 1st Overall, Kish Race 2023 Photo: Cormac Bradley

L to R: Ronan Beirne of Leinster Boats, David Freeman & Crew, Toucan, 1st Shipman 28 in the Kish Race and Frank Guilfoyle Photo:  Photo: Cormac Bradley

L to R: Ronan Beirne, Leinster Boats, Frank Guilfoyle, DMYC, Brendan Duffy and Enda, Carmen, 1st Ruffian. (Photo Cormac Bradley

The results had to be amended three times before a result sheet was pinned up for final consideration, as the requirement of rounding the offset mark generated some genteel debate about compliance. However, a prize-giving did take place in the DMYC to round out the day’s proceedings.

Top five Kish race 2023

The prize-giving opened with due thanks to Leinster Boats’ Ronan Beirne and Dublin Port who gave permission for the Race to take place, given their responsibility for managing and vetting traffic into and out of the Port. Additional thanks were given to the staff at the DMYC for their help in preparing for the Race and hosting the prize-giving.

In addition to the Overall Trophy, 2nd, and 3rd places overall, first double-handed crew, 1st Shipman and 1st Ruffian 23, a prize in memory of Ben Mulligan was presented in recognition of his involvement with recent Kish Races and was awarded to the Best Placed “Young” person in the fleet. Katie Poole was awarded this trophy. Keith and Katie also picked up the prize for the first double-handed crew.

Katie Poole receives the Kish Race's Ben Mulligan Trophy - with Ronan Beirne of Leinster Boats, Frank Guilfoyle and Dad, Keith Poole Photo: Cormac Bradley

DMYC Kish Race 2023 Photo Gallery 

Pete Smyth's Sunfast 3600 Searcher from the National Yacht Club was the overall handicap winner of Sunday's Leinster Boats-sponsored DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay. 

Smyth's crew led the 36-boat fleet from Dun Laoghaire Harbour's start to finish line in the last big event of the Bay’s summer sailing programme. 

Start vid below by Barry O'Neill

The race lived up to its billing regarding fleet size and the return of summer sailing conditions with a balmy 17-degree air temperature for the October 1st race and a pleasant westerly breeze of up to 15 knots and a relatively flat sea state to boot.

A mix of cruisers and small one-design keelboats at the start of the DMYC Kish Race 2023 at Dun Laoghaire's East Pier lighthouse including the third overall 20-foot Flying Fifteen (red and black spinnaker) skippered by Keith Poole Photo: Afloat

Smyth finished in an elapsed time of three hours, 19 minutes and 15 seconds, but won only by a margin of 46 seconds on corrected time from Frank Whelan's Archambault A31, Crazy Diamond. 

In third place was one of the many one-design keelboats competing, as Keith Poole's 20-foot long, two-man Flying Fifteen, Mike Wazowski, finished in an elapsed time of 4:08:45 corrected to 3:43:53 on local handicap.

The Kish Race fleet cross Dun Laoghaire Harbour mouth Photo: Afloat

The results produced yet another overall ISORA racer as the event winner, as last year's Kish title went to a former Irish Sea Champion, Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia. 

The successful staging of the 2023 race, under Race Officer Cormac Bradley, was a tribute to the late Ben Mulligan, who was DMYC's Kish Race organiser until 2022.

The fleet passed south of a mark in the proximity of the South Burford on the outward and return legs to the Kish to comply with Dublin Port requirements 

There was a strong one-design keelboat presence in the all-in fleet with seven Ruffian 23s, four Shipman 28s, four Flying Fifteens, two 31.7s and an SB20 competing in the 36-boat fleet.

David Roche's Dufour 32 classic Hebe IV to leeward with John O'Callaghan's Shipman Ruadh on the outbound leg to the Kish Lighthouse Photo: Afloat

15 knots from the West gave the fleet a shy reach to the Kish lighthouse Photo: Afloat

G&S O'Shea's Superseal 26 Gung-Ho and Frank Bradley's Ruffian 23 Ripples race past the Norwegian Star cruise liner moored on Dublin Bay on the outward bound leg to the Kish lighthouse Photo: Afloat

Michael Walsh's Westerly Falcon, Leda competing in the 2023 DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

John Clarke's Shipman Jo Slim competing in the 2023 DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Michael Ryan's Nicholson 31 Saki competing in the 2023 DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

After the disappointment of not getting sailing last Sunday, and with Storm Agnes passing through on Wednesday afternoon, the Weather Gods are looking more favourable for DMYC's rescheduled Kish Race on Dublin Bay on Sunday, 1st October.

The starting time is at 11.00 at the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The entry remains open on www.dmyc.ie.

"DMYC, along with Sponsors Leinster Boats, look forward to a full house on the water, and back for the Après Sail in the clubhouse after", Neil Colin told Afloat.

"The fleet will be passing south of a mark in the proximity of the South Burford on the outward and return legs, to comply with Dublin Port requirements", he added.

Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) on Dublin Bay has reported a steady flow of entries for this weekend's highly anticipated Kish Race.

In a recent announcement, the club has introduced a new perpetual prize for the first Under 25 Skipper in memory of Ben Mulligan, who passed away a few weeks after successfully running the 2022 edition of the race.

The race is sponsored by Dun Laoghaire yacht brokers, Leinster Boats.

The trophy is intended to honour Ben's contribution to encouraging youth and students to sail on the bay.

The late Ben Mulligan at the start of the 2022 DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

According to the Notice of Race, the eligibility standard for the race is set as "boats capable of sailing in open water." Weather permitting, the race may include sports boats, SB20s, and other boats, as the experience of sailing around the Kish structure in "river-like tidal conditions", is not to be missed.

The weather forecast for the race currently indicates a moderate Southerly breeze, which should make for a fast race.

This sets the stage for a reach both ways, and skippers are eagerly anticipating the challenge. The Kish Race has always been a popular event that attracts sailors from all over Dublin Bay and beyond, and this year's edition promises to be as exciting as ever.

Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) has published the Notice of Race for its annual Kish Race on Dublin Bay, with support from Leinster Boats yacht brokers.

The race will start from the West Pier at 11.00 am on Sunday, 24th September.

The race is sponsored by Dun Laoghaire yacht brokers, Leinster Boats.

In a change from the usual format, as agreed with Dublin Port, the fleet will pass south of the South Burford on both the outbound and inbound legs of the race.

The race is run on “Standard Echo.” We welcome the competitive racers, weekend recreation, and cruiser sailors to participate in the last major race on the Dublin Bay summer racing calendar.

Race organiser, Neil Colin noted, "Have no fear of a crowded start line as it will be approximately 500m long!"

As regular Afloat readers will recall, Chris Power Smith's well-proven J122, Aurelia, won the 2022 race in a fine turnout of 56 boats.

Chris Power Smith's well-proven J122, Aurelia, took the overall win in Sunday's fine turnout for the Leinster Boats sponsored annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club. 

The Royal St.George offshore exponent ended up with a three-minute winning margin over Pete Smyth's Sunfast 3600 Searcher, who finished with a corrected time of 2:41:23.

In a spread of different designs, the 56-boat fleet included ocean-going Hallberg Rasseys, plenty of popular one-design classes right-down to the 21-foot First 211s, as well as a good showing from the ISORA brigade.

(Above and below) Winner Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia (sail number 35950) executed a fast running start with second overall Pete Smyth's Sunfast 3600 Searcher (2729) also quick out of the traps at the pin end of the DMYC Kish Race Photo: Afloat

Winds were westerly up to ten knots with stronger gusts offshore, giving the fleet a downwind start for the 28 km race.

The view from the West Pier of the fine turnout of 56 boats for the end of season DMYC Kish race

Operating from the DBSC Starters hut on Dun Laoghaire's West Pier, Race Officer Cormac Bradley got the fleet away punctually at 11 am.

Rounding the famous lighthouse to port, the fleet had an upwind leg home to Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Third, in the fine combined keelboat turnout, was Barry Cunningham's Cape 31 Blast from the Royal Irish Yacht Club. 

Barry Cunningham's Cape 31 Blast from the Royal Irish Yacht Club competing in the DMYC Kish Race Photo: Afloat

As Afloat reported earlier, the event encompassed a stage of the Cruiser 3 Championship.

Kevin Byrne's Hunter Formula 28 Starlet was a front runner in the Cruiser 3 Championships that incorporated the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Michael Cutliffe's Ruffian 23 Ruffles topped a strong Ruffian 23 turnout in eighth overall. Likewise, the top performer from a strong Shipman 28 class representation was Colm Duggan's Viking.

Ruff Rider was one of six Ruffian 23s (two retired) competing in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat 

In a strong turnout from Greystones Harbour Sailing Club in County Wicklow, three boats finished in the top ten overall.

Frank Whelan's new Archambault 3, A-Plus from Greystones was seventh in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Daragh Cafferky's Archambault 35 Another Adventure was fifth. Club mate Frank Whelan's new Archambault 31A-Plus was seventh and Steve Hayes's Magic e Beneteau, a  First 34.7, was tenth.

The Kish Race organiser was DMYC Rear Commodore Ben Mulligan  Photo: Afloat

Myles Kelly's Senator Maranda passes the visiting cruiser liner Seven Seas Splendour on the outbound leg to the Kish light Photo: Afloat

Alan McMahon's Hallberg Rassy 352 Esperanza competing in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

 The Beneteau First 34.7 Magic e skipped by Steve Hayes from Greystones Sailing Club finished tenth in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Double-handed Grzegorz Kalinecki's First 310 More Mischief, who competed in June's Round Ireland Race, was also a competitor in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Pete Evans's Beneteau 211 Anemos II was a competitor  in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

The Ronan Haughey Beneteau 31.7 After You Too from the Royal St. George Yacht Club at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Vincent Duke's Trintella III Black Robin competing in the annual Kish Race at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

See results below

Barry Cunningham's new fast Cape 31 'Blast' from the Royal Irish Yacht Club will no doubt cut a dash in Sunday's Leinster Boats sponsored DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay. 

With entries approaching 45 boats, organisers are hoping for good weather conditions to facilitate the annual trip to the famous lighthouse.

It remains to be seen if any of the 13 Dublin J109s (who are not now racing for national honours) will race instead on the 28 km course.

As Afloat reported earlier, the event encompasses a stage of the Cruiser 3 Championship.

There is also a strong number of Ruffian 23 and Shipman Class entries.  Also of note are three classic DBSC 21 entries.

The starting time is 11.00 am this Sunday (25th) from the DBSC Hut on the West Pier. Entries are still available on www.dmyc.ie

The Race Officer has asked competitors are asked to check the Club Website (www.dmyc.ie) for some amendments to the Sailing Instructions.

This year's DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay will incorporate the Cruiser 3 Championships. 

Starting in the vicinity of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and racing to the Kish lighthouse and back, it is a distance of approximately 28 km.

It is hoped that weather conditions will allow for the fleet to race around the Kish Light and back to the finish at the West Pier, DMYC Sailing Secretary Ben Mulligan told Afloat.

The race takes place on Sunday, 25th September, starting from the DBSC Starting Hut at 11 am.

The prizegiving will take place in the DMYC after the completion of the racing.

Along with overall winners, there will also be prizes for first place in the Shipman 28 and Ruffian 23 Classes and a special award for the leading 2-person crew.

Entry Forms and Sailing Instructions are available on: www.dmyc.ie

Paddy Barnwell skippering the Greystones Sailing Club J/122 Kaya won the DMYC's Kish Race on Dublin Bay today. 

Starting at Dun Laoghaire Harbour and racing to the Kish lighthouse and back, the course is approximately 28 km and attracted a 41-boat entry.

Second overall was ISORA champion Conor O'Higgins in the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI with fellow ISORA racer John O'Goman in the Sunfast 3600, Hot Cookie third. 

Brendan Duffy's Carmen led the Ruffian 23 class with Fergus Mason leading in the Shipmans in Viking.

There was a great mix of sailing cruisers competing in the annual race around the Kiish including competitors in the Cruisers III Championships plus two of the three recently restored Dublin Bay 21s, Naneen and Garavogue

Download full results below

The recently restored vintage Dublin Bay 21 Garavogue (Number 4) raced with the cruisers around the Kish lighthouse on Dublin Bay

Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) has published details of the 2021 edition of its annual Kish Race on Dublin Bay next weekend.

The popular round Kish and back race will take place on Sunday, 19th September with the first gun at 10.55 a.m.

This year the Kish Race is part of the Cruiser 3 National Championships.

As regular Afloat readers will recall, last year the annual fixture had assembled a sizeable fleet including yachts from nearby Greystones Harbour in County Wicklow before having to cancel due to COVID.

Starting in the vicinity of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and racing to the Kish lighthouse and back, it is a distance of approximately 28 km.

Overall prizes will be awarded for the best performance (using an approximate TCF for Classic vessels and one-design boats).

Race organiser Ben Mulligan says that 'as this is the “last major” in the Dublin Bay summer season before the lift out or winter racing, the club is looking forward to an enthusiastic entry'.

Handicapping will be based on ECHO Standard, giving those with revised ECHOs a good chance at the prizes.

Overall prizes will be awarded for the best performance. (The Kish Race Trophy).