The last Flying Fifteen race of the DBSC AIB summer series proved to be another challenging evening for the race officer Brian Mathews and his team on what was one of the warmest days of the year with very light E-NE winds. It was a good tactical race and trying to keep clear wind was the priority.
Despite a number of boats heading to the Championships of Ireland in Whiterock this weekend, there was a good turnout with 11 boats on the start line. Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey (Rodriguez) had the title as Neil Colin, who was level on points in second place could not make this race, but the other podium places had to be decided.
The pin end was biased, Chris Doorly & Caroline Green (Match Five) tried their luck lining up for a port start at the biased pin but didn't make it and ducked under a few transoms and headed out to sea accompanied by O'Sullivan and Sherry in clear wind as most headed left. With the easterly, there was more breeze the further out you went, and this paid off as Doorly led this group which now included Laura & Niall Coleman at the first mark.
Most headed left on the run, but on the second beat, Dumpleton showed his prowess as he made big gains by going left to move level with the Coleman's at the weather mark. This prompted Doorly to look for the wind that Dumpleton had on the beat and as a result, headed to the right on the run followed by Dumpleton as Coleman and the majority of the fleet went left on the run. This move paid dividends as they moved well clear of the fleet by the leeward mark and managed to navigate their way to the finish line for Doorly & Green to win with Dumpleton & Hickey back in second but happy that they had won the overall series. Coleman stayed in third place with Balfe fourth and Ryan fifth. Then it was the long paddle home!
