Former National Yacht Club Commodore Ronan Beirne, who welcomed three restored Dublin Bay 21s back to Dun Laoghaire Harbour last Friday, accepted an invitation to join a DB21 crew for the first DBSC race in 35 years last Tuesday evening.
I was delighted to join my fellow crew on Tuesday evening, all of whom I have known for many years but I never had the pleasure of sailing with before – the magic of the 21's restoration bringing Dublin Bay sailors together.
Skipper and helmsman Fionán de Barra. Sailing master Jim Foley with 21's in his blood as the son of the late Albert Foley who owned the Twenty-one Estelle. Michael Rothschild, a former 21 sailor, long term crew on the Dublin Bay 24 Fenestra and now part of a 31.7 crew. Dean McAlree, a former crew on Harmony the Dublin Bay 24 and now on a 31.7 and myself a Flying Fifteen crew.
The other DB21 on the evening, Estelle had a similar gathering of various Dublin Bay sailors. And so we boarded the launch and out to Garavogue on her moorings on the East pier where Jim was already on board and had her racing flag aloft, the first sign of how different these yachts are as most modern yachts don't carry a racing flag as there is so much instrument kit on top of the mast.
On approaching the Garavogue, I recalled the only time I had ever been on board Garavogue was probably over fifty years ago when her late owner George Williams brought her alongside the quay in Bulloch Harbour on a high tide and invited us, locals, onboard for a viewing. The 21 seemed massive as we were sailing out of Bulloch in a National 12 at the time. So here I am, over fifty years later climbing on board to go racing. On boarding, there are no guard rails to hang onto.
Dublin Bay 21 Estelle Number 3 Photo: Michael Chester
The first task was a discussion on how best to sail off the mooring – no engine, so once the plan decided on up with the main. I was hauling the throat and Dean the peak with Jim coordinating our haul.
It reminded me of the drill onboard Asgard with Captain Eric Healy in command "up throat – not so fast o the peak" then belaying off the halyard tails on the pins on the mast – no clutches on this ship. Then up with the jib, and we are ready to sail off the mooring, which Fionán did as if he does so every week and without the gap of some thirty-five years. Onboard the sails are synthetic fibre butter in colour and have a fabric feel to them.
Dublin Bay 21 Garavogue Number 4 Photo: Michael Chester
The standing rigging and runners are Dyneema, and there are no winches. The runners are lines onto the cleat, with no Highfield levers or rolling drums. There are no electronic instruments to distract from the sails and the working of the yacht. Once sailing, the 21 assumes a lovely powerful motion, and when we got out to the starting area, fellow Dublin Bay sailors gave us a wave in the various cruiser-racer classes. There was circa 9 knots from the S.W. with a considerable wind shadow near the Dublin Bay Sailing Club Box and the last of the flood tide. The Box - I can't remember when I last raced from the Box we have got so used to the flag boats in recent years. Tacking, we had runners, jib sheets and main sheet to attend to, and we soon got into a routine. Michael commented on how roomy the cockpit is in the renovated boat as compared to the former boats.
Dublin Bay 21 Naneen Number 6 Photo: Michael Chester
Fionán commented on how easy she was to handle on the helm, and with the new sail plan, the helmsman can see, whereas, with the former Bermudan sloop rig, the big genoa obscured vision. As we were so busy hauling sheets in the cockpit with Dean at the mast and Jim on the counter, advised on slacking off or hardening. The only "modern" piece of kit on board was a handheld VHF to hear the Race Officers instructions. Jim Dolan, Race Officer, welcomed the arrival of the 21s for their first race.
After starting the various classes, the 21's were given a shorter course of Pier (as the other fleets 1st mark) then Merrion, Turning mark and finish, and so we were off. As we were a little early, Naneen got away and to the first mark Pier and just ahead. At Pier mark, we gybed around and off to Merrion. Our courses diverged as Naneen headed out into the Bay as we went straight for Merrion Mark and arrived there ahead of Naneen, and here we rounded up for the return to Turning mark and to the finish. On finishing, we were in company with some white GRP boats who put on their motors to head for the marina. We were sailing into the Harbour in the traditional way and discussed how best to approach our mooring in the East bight and thought perhaps a preliminary practice run might be in order. Not necessary as Fionán sailed Garavogue right up to the mooring buoy as we dropped the mainsail and came to a stop at the mooring buoy - perfection.
We had completed the first race in some thirty-five years in a 34' 9" (10.6 metres, including bowsprit) long keel gaff-rigged yacht without winches, wire rigging (except forestay), engine and electronic navigation or wind instruments. Perhaps these are not necessary for a happy crew to thoroughly enjoy the experience of traditional sailing in these magnificent renovated Dublin Bay Twenty One's – the oldest cruiser-racer class in the world.
