The 2023 DBSC season was a mixed bag of weather for everyone and the Flying Fifteens were no exception. We had Saturdays when we were blown off due to too much wind or dangerous seas only to find the following Thursday that we didn’t have enough wind to warrant going afloat. On another Thursday, we had a peasouper of an evening where only two boats bothered to try and find the committee boat – we did – before the Race Officer called the whole affair off. We also had the windiest Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta that I can recall where five Flying Fifteens “distinguished” themselves as being the only boats in a 400+ fleet to get a race in on the very blustery Thursday.
The Dun Laoghaire fleet was well represented at all the regional and National events, with a big turnout in Connemara in particular. Having seen the National title go West (Congrats Niall & Ronan) and another pedigree boat go west from Dun Laoghaire (followed up by a win in the closing Lough Derg regatta), the East Coast home of Flying Fifteens now has a challenge on its hands from our West Coast brethren.
After the close of the season, with the Frostbites a recent memory (Congrats Shane & Alan), and the deck at the National Yacht Club devoid of all the summer boats bar a couple of hardy Fifteens the fleet congregated for its 2023 prize-giving dinner.
The MC for the evening was Class Captain Robin Hilliard with able assistance from his daughter and crew Dasha, with guests in the form of Rosemary Cadogan, Vice Commodore of the National Yacht Club and Rosemary Roy, Honorary Secretary of DBSC.
A large number of prizes were awarded on the night, with quite a few acknowledged by specific trophies.
Frank Burns Trophy DBSC Thursdays 1st Crew Hugh McNally
Godkin Trophy DBSC Saturdays 1st Crew Chris Doorly
Siobhan Trophy DBSC Saturdays (Apr & May) David Gorman & Chris Doorly
Ross Doyle Tankard DBSC Thursdays Series 2 Shane McCarthy & Hugh McNally
Heineken Plate DBSC 1st Overall Neil Colin & Margaret Casey
Lady Crew Trophy* DBSC 1st Lady Crew Overall Margaret Casey
Lady Helm Trophy* DBSC 1st Lady Helm Overall Jill Fleming.
*New trophies presented by Mrs Rosemary Roy.
Cooper Trophy DBSC 1st Silver Fleet Adrian Cooper & Joe McNamara
Hellsgate Trophy DBSC 1st Bronze Fleet John O’Sullivan & Pat Kiersey
Halfway Mug DBSC Saturdays, 1st Silver Fleet Peter & Alex Sherry
Gold Fleet (Overall)
1. Neil Colin & Margaret Casey
2. Tom Galvin & Keith Poole
3. Alastair Court & Conor O’Leary
Silver Fleet (Overall)
1. Adrian Cooper & Joe McNamara
2. Peter & Alex Sherry
3. Jill Fleming & Richard O’Rahilly
Bronze Fleet (Overall)
1. John O’Sullivan & Pat Kiersey
2. Caomhan McKernan & Maurice Collins
3. Robin & Dasha Hilliard
Endeavour Trophy – Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey
Chase Trophy – Robin & Dasha Hilliard – Dalkey Island Chase
Captain’s Prize – Schull Harbour Race – Alan Green & Caroline Hannify
DAF Traveller’s Trophy – Niall Meagher & Nicki Matthews.
Neophyte Trophy (Newcomer to the fleet) – Gavin Hall.
Following the prize-giving, NYC Vice Commodore Rosemary Cadogan addressed the dinner in the absence of the Commodore, who was on the other side of the world.
The final formal act of the evening saw the outgoing Captain Robin Hilliard exit the office with a huge commendation for his efforts over the past 12 months and the “anointing” of his successor Joe Hickey with the donning of the Captain’s peaked cap.
The fixture list for the 2024 Flying Fifteen regatta circuit has been released within the past few days, and readers are reminded that this will be a qualifying year for the UK-hosted Worlds in 2025.
Flying Fifteens Prize-giving photo gallery 2023
Margaret Casey (L) receives the 1st Lady Crew Overall DBSC from National Yacht Club Vice Commodore, Rosemary Cadogan, with 2023 Flying Fifteen Class Captain, Robin Hilliard looking on. This is a new trophy donated to the Class by Rosemary Roy Photo: Cormac Bradley
Jill Fleming (C) with the 1st Flying Fifteen Lady Helm Overall DBSC with Rosemary Cadogan and Robin Hilliard. This is a new trophy donated to the Class by Rosemary Roy Photo: Cormac Bradley
Keith Poole (L) and Tom Galvin (2nd from right) pick up a prize for 2nd overall in DBSC Flying Fifteen Gold Fleet Photo: Cormac Bradley
Shane McCarthy (C) accepts the Ross Doyle Tankard for winning DBSC Flying Fifteen Thursdays Series 2 Photo: Cormac Bradley
Shane McCarthy with the Frank Burns Trophy for Hugh McNally – DBSC Flying Fifteen Thursdays, 1st Crew Photo: Cormac Bradley
Chris Doorly – 1st Crew Flying Fifteen DBSC Saturdays Photo: Cormac Bradley
Chris Doorly and David Gorman (L), winners of the Flying Fifteen Siobhan Trophy – DBSC Saturdays April & May, with Rosemary Cadogan and Robin Hilliard Photo: Cormac Bradley
Alastair Court with prizes for 3rd in Flying Fifteen Gold Fleet DBSC Photo: Cormac Bradley
Joe Hickey makes his maiden speech as the incoming (2024) Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Class Captain Photo: Cormac Bradley
