#dbsc – Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 25 JUNE 2015

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 2.
Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton),
3. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson)

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

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lively Lady (Derek
Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jigamaree (R Harris), 2. Something Else (J.Hall
et al), 3. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jigamaree (R Harris), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et
al), 3. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jester (Declan
Curtin), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin),
3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Cri-Cri (P Colton), 2. Cries of Passion (B Maguire),
3. Huggy Bear (Doyle & Byrne)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Grasshopper 2 (K & J Glynn), 2. Yehaa
(Whelan/McCabe/Cary/Cramer), 3. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 2. Taiscealai
(B Richardson), 3. Maranda (Myles Kelly)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Isolde (B Mulkeen & J Martin), 2. Yikes (J
Conway), 3. Saki (Paget McCormack et al)

Combined Classes - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Rupert (R & P
Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Rupert (R & P
Lovegrove), 3. Enchantress (Larkin/Bonner/Nicholl)

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

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Flyer
(Niall Coleman), 3. Ffling (Brian O'Neill)

GLEN - 1. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 2. Glenroan (T O'Sullivan),
3. Glendun (B.Denham et al)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C
Mitchell), 3. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe)

SB20 - 1. Sin Bin (Michael O'Connor), 2. Venuesworld.com (Ger
Dempsey), 3. Bango (J Gorman)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 2. Invader (Gerard
Glynn), 3. Euphanzel lll (M Muldoon)

SIGMA 33 Echo - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove),
3. Enchantress (Larkin/Bonner/Nicholl)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B
Kerr), 3. Enchantress (Larkin/Bonner/Nicholl)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3.
Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

SQUIB - 1. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans),
3. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford), 2. Act Two
(Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Aurora (Ray Conway)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2.
Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford)

#fireball – It would appear that the price the racing fleet pay for a day of sunshine, like yesterday, is a fickle evening of breeze. Not unexpected really! Yesterday was warm enough to warrant the generation of a sea-breeze but as the warmth fades so too does the strength of the breeze. And so it was to prove last night!

Five Fireballs answered the starter's call and were rewarded with two races.........well one race and a dramatically shortened second race.

Race 1 was a Windward/Leeward and by the time I got to my observation post on the seafront at Scotsman's Bay, the lead was being disputed by Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (14775) and Noel Butler & Crew (15061), Stephen being away. Noel led around the weather mark but Neil wasn't that far behind him. The sequence behind these two was Team Clancy, Conor and James, (15113), Cariosa Power & Marie Barry (14854) and Louis Smyth & Crew (15007). At this stage the race was at the second windward rounding. Noel eked out a short lead by the time they reached the leeward mark. Neil took a short hitch out to sea after rounding the leeward mark before reverting to a port tack approach to the weather mark. This modest deviation from the others paid dividends as he and Margaret rounded the last weather mark in first place. However, Noel & Crew weren't too far behind and both boats took a more seaward approach to the downwind finish. Initially Butler passed out Colin to weather but when they approached each other again, Butler having gybed that bit earlier but outside Colin, Colin had regained the lead. In the meantime, Team Clancy had taken a more direct approach to the downwind finish and as the lead pair worked their way back inshore, it was apparent that the direct line taken by Team Clancy had allowed them to close the gap significantly. All three boats crossed the finish line overlapped with the finishing order being Butler, Clancy and Colin.

The weather forecast had suggested SSW winds of 8 – 11 knots for 19:00, and at 19:30 at the end of the first race, the Race Team were obviously encouraged by what they saw on the water as they indicated a second race would be started with three triangles on the menu! At this stage the surface of the racing area had a distinctly different appearance to further out to sea. On a line drawn between the harbour mouth and Sandycove, the outer area had a darker appearance, suggesting wind on the water, whereas inshore wind seemed to be less evident.

For the second start Team Clancy won the pin with Smyth & Crew astern of them and Colin & Casey to leeward. Power & Barry and Butler & Crew were further inshore and Butler was the first to peel away to pursue an inshore course. That proved to be a fatal error! The other four boats worked the left-hand side of the course with Colin, Clancy & Power each taking little nibbles to sea every so often to clear wind. At one stage an over-sized blanket would have covered all four boats. Smyth & Crew were steadfast in their singular approach to the weather mark, taking a long port tack hitch for which they were rewarded with first place at the weather mark. Power & Barry rounded second, followed by Team Clancy. One hitch to sea too many cooked Colin & Casey's goose and they rounded in a poor fourth. Butler was wallowing inshore of the weather mark at this stage. Rather than bear off towards the gybe mark, Colin went high, possibly trying to get into the breeze that was outside the line of harbour to Sandycove. It didn't materialise and he ended up having to gybe back to set a course to the gybe mark.

Meanwhile Smyth and Power played pass the parcel with the lead in what were now very light conditions – spinnakers were "hanging" rather than filling! However, the lead two were "hanging" better than Team Clancy as they both sailed away from the brothers. Power led into the gybe mark, and as she rounded the shortened course signal was flown. Smyth & Crew sailing a line outside that of Power & Barry, seemed to get into better "wind" and eased away to a comfortable win.

#laser – Eighteen of our regular fleet plus another few guests (who sportingly ducked out at the finish) from the ISA Laser Academy made for a busy start line and top notch racing in Scotsman's Bay last night. Plaudits also to DBSC yet again. RO Suzanne McGarry set great courses, switching from W/L to Olympic triangle for the second race and calling it just right with a shortened course late on. How fantastic it is to see these young sailors engaging with the local racing infrastructure. It just goes to show that if the product and format is right at a local level, young racers will join in with the older sailors and get valuable race practice to supplement their hours of dedicated training.

To the racing and Kinsale Radial hotshot Ross O'Sullivan took Cian Cahill's full rig and pretty much controlled Race 1 in a challenging Force 2-3, working the left side of the beat where pressure was best and holding the pack off with good speed downwind. Behind him came Patrick Cahill and Luke Murphy, followed by Liam Glynn in a Radial in fact. With a triangle set up for Race 2, the Lasers looked forward to catching a few waves down the reaches but, ultimately the clock caught up with us and Flag S went up after just one lap as the breeze turned off. Luke Murphy took the gun and with it the "Boat of the Night" accolade, followed by RCYC's Cian Byrne sailing the O'Beirne Laser tonight. Older lads Coakley and Craig were next in line, putting a few of the young pups in their place at least, which is kinda important for senior morale !

Some head off for the Westerns at Galway next week and also worth noting is that Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta closes entries next Tuesday, June 30. Both Radials and Full rigs will compete at VDLR.

Results here.

#dbsc – CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Black Sheep (E Healy), 3. Utopia (J Healy)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 2. Yeehaa (McCabe Cramer Carey Whelan), 3. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan)

Ensign - 1. NYC1 (A Dooley), 2. INSS 2 (G Williams), 3. NYC2 (B Mathews)

FIREBALL - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Incubus (C Power/M Barry), 3. Clandog Millionaire (J & C Clancy)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Clandog Millionaire (J & C Clancy), 3. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey)

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

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

Laser Race 1- 1. Cian Cahill (RSGYC), 2. Rob Cahill (RSGYC), 3. Luke Murphy (RSGYC)

Laser Race 2- 1. Luke Murphy (RSGYC), 2. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 3. Marc Coakley (RSGYC)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Noel Colclough (), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor Duffy (RS400)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. Noel Colclough (), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor Duffy (RS400)

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

SQUIB - 1. Tais (Michael O'Connell), 2. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup)

#flyingfifteen – It's for days like this that we sail, a sunny afternoon with a nice force 3/4 on excellent Flying Fifteen DBSC courses set by Suzanne McGarry and her team on Freebird. There were two races, the first a windward leeward course won by Ian Mathews & Keith Poole in Gruffalo and the second an Olympic triangle course won by Alan Green & Chris Doorly in Frequent Flyer. The wind was forecast to be from the SW but it was mainly westerly and was very shifty, the tide was ebbing.

After last weekend's great racing at the Northern Championships many in the fleet upped their game and racing was extremely close, the Cahills, McCambridge & Murphy and Coughlin & Marshal were in great form sailing particularly well.

In Race 1 Mathews was out of the blocks quickly and lead all the way, behind it was a closer affair, Green had a poor start and was at the left side while those who started adjacent the committee boat and went right had more pressure, Tom Murphy and Tom Galvin along with Coughlin and McCambridge were also doing well as they approached the weather mark. There was plenty of action as the wind strength increased, Fraser Mitchel fell out of his boat, Galvin had to do turns, other came in on port and didn't give way to starboard boats (this should not happen!) while Green did a quick gybe set that kept him in touch with the leaders. On lap 3 Green finally got passed and pulled away from Mulvin and the Cahill brothers to take second place, Galvin was third with David & Valerie Mulvin fourth.

Race two was just as exciting, the committee boat end was favoured, Mathews, Tom Murphy and Tom Galvin were the first group at the weather mark and they went in towards the shore, those on the right were not far behind, positions changed on the tight reach with Mathews leading Green second and Galvin third., again McCambridge in Hi Fibre and Coughlin in Ash were not far behind. On the next beat the right paid but it was shifty, Mathews went more left and Green took advantage in the shifts to get the lead, a lead he was to keep till the gun. On the final reach Mathews and Galvin had spinnaker troubles but Galvin managed to sort himself out to finish second, Mathews was third, McCambridge fourth and Tom Muprhy fifth.
It was great to see so many boats out racing. This Thursday the DBSC series continues this week.

Saturday's DBSC results are here

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 2.

Thirty Something (Kavanagh\Gaffney\Jones), 3. Attitude (T Milner J
Sugars M Branigan

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Bluefin Two (M & B
Bryson), 3. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen)

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

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lively Lady (Derek
Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Adrenalin (J McDonald & J Balfe), 2. Boomerang
(Paul Kirwan), 3. Bon Exemple (C Byrne)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et
al), 3. Gringo (Tony Fox)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Jester (Declan
Curtin), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Kamikaze (P.Nash/B.McIntyre), 2. Bendemeer (L
Casey & D Power), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 2.
Taiscealai (B Richardson), 3. Syzrgy (R Fogarty)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 2. Cri-Cri (P
Colton), 3. Taiscealai (B Richardson)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2.
Thingamabob (T Galvin), 3. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews), 2.
Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 3. Thingamabob (T Galvin)

GLEN - 1. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al),
3. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 2. Alias
(D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 2. Invader (Gerard
Glynn), 3. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Sidewinder (R&R
Westrup), 3. Tais (Michael O'Connell)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Sidewinder (R&R
Westrup), 3. Aja (W Goodbody & N Devin)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Spirit (Colin O'Brien et al), 2. Act Two
(Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al)

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

#dbsc – Going into the last race of the First Series in the Flying Fifteen class four boats were in contention, Frequent Flyer sailed by Chris Doorly & Alan Green won on the night to tie the Series with Dave Gorman's Betty who didn't sail. Neil Colman & Mick Quinn in Flyer were one point behind in third overall with Mulvin & Beirne another point behind.

On what looked like a perfect evening for sailing it turned out to be a frustrating one for most fleets as the winds on the bay came from different directions with a big hole with no wind in the middle where most of the boats were! Initially the wind was from the NW and the tide was ebbing, there were a number of boats over the line, some went back including Colman and a few didn't go back. Doorly had a bad start and at the Harbour mark Mulvin led from Balfe, O'Sullivan and Balfe with the O'Neills not far behind. On the run most boats seemed to head out left, Doorly went right in a more direct line to the mark, half way down those on the left stopped with no wind.
There was a lot of flapping around and at this stage the tide was flooding. Doorly stayed on the right following a few SB3's and Mulvin did likewise, meanwhile Colman and Doyle were looking good over on the left where there appeared to be wind. It didn't last, on the right Doorly got a zepher of wind and kept it going to get around the East mark with a comfortable lead, second was Mulvin followed by Colman and Doyle but the fleet was well spread out at this stage. This was how it finished as PRO Jack Roy shortened the course at Battery to the relief of all.

The First Series was a great success for the class with great numbers out every week providing close competitive racing.

This Saturday the DBSC series continues.

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Bluefin Two (M & B

Bryson), 3. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 2. Prospect (Chris
Johnston)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan), 2. Jigamaree (R Harris),
3. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jigamaree (R Harris), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Black Sheep (E Healy), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin),
3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Black Sheep (E Healy), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3.
Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Cries of Passion (B Maguire), 2. Supernova
(McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Cries of Passion (B Maguire), 2. Supernova
(McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Billy Whizz (P Shannon & D Shannon), 2. Syzrgy
(R Fogarty), 3. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain), 2. Maranda (Myles
Kelly), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. Black Sheep (E Healy), 2. Jester (Declan
Curtin), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

Combined Classes - 1. Black Sheep (E Healy), 2. Jester (Declan
Curtin), 3. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Ignis Caput
(David Mulvey), 3. Flyer (Niall Coleman)

GLEN - 1. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes), 2. Glencoe (Rose Mary Craig et al),
3. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 2. Shannagh
(S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada), 3. Cresendo (L Balfe)

SB20 - 1. Probably (B Riordan), 2. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), 3.
Tiger Lite (N O Carroll)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Curraglas (John Masterson),
3. The Den (A. Costello/G.Millar)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted
McCourt), 3. Enchantress (Larkin/Bonner/Nicholl)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P
Lovegrove), 3. Enchantress (Larkin/Bonner/Nicholl)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted
McCourt), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SQUIB - 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 3.
Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Effex 11 (Alan Rountree), 2. Afternoon
Delight (Michael Bennett et al), 3. Nirvana (Bernard Neeson)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Menapia (J Sweeney), 2. Cevantes (Paul
Conway), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

Pleasant evening, modest turnout!

After the respective exploits of those who travelled to the north coast for the Ulster Championships and those who sailed south and west in larger boats from Dun Laoghaire to Dingle, it may have been expected that there would be a modest turnout last night for the DBSC Tuesday Series.

#fireball – The weather forecast for 19:00 suggested winds from WSW of 9 knots with gusts to 14 knots writes Cormac Bradley. I'm not convinced that the three boat Fireball fleet that I was able to watch from the pier inside the harbour, as racing was inside the harbour last night, enjoyed such vigorous breeze, but with a pleasant airtime temperature and a "sunny-ish" outlook, I can think of much worse ways to spend an evening.

From my limited observation of the first of two windward-leeward races set inside the harbour, not too much energy was being expended either upwind or downwind in genteel conditions. The committee boat was located in the middle of the harbour and for the first race the windward mark was located just shy of the channel into DL's marina. The leeward mark was located a short distance upwind of the committee boat and there was a completely separate start/finish line slightly to leeward of the committee boat. For the second race the windward mark was moved closer to the gantry of the HSS.

When I took up my station, Messrs Butler & Oram (15061) were leading by a modest distance with Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keefe (14691) on the same side of the course as the leaders. Louis Smyth & crew (15007) worked the inshore side of the beat but did not get to the mark before the ladies. However, on the subsequent downwind leg, he was able to pass them out. On the next beat, Butler & Oram stayed on the starboard side of the beat before applying a loose cover on Smyth who took the initiative of going inshore first. He thus found himself sailing a parallel but upwind course to the ladies. Halfway up the beat, an errant spinnaker popped out of the bag and went trawling. The consequent slow-down allowed the girls to pass him out and this remained the position to the finish.

My parenting obligations required me to abandon the second race, so all I can report is that Noel & Stephen won again, while the positions of second and third were reversed with Smyth and crew claiming second place.

Looking at the official results on the DBSC website this afternoon, I think there is information missing, so I am going to list my interpretation of the overall situation, at risk of being shot down for getting it wrong!

DBSC Tuesday Nights: Series 2[1]
1 Noel Butler & Stephen Oram 15061 National Yacht Club 4pts
2 Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe 14691 Royal St. George Yacht Club 8pts
3 Louis Smyth & crew 15007 Coal Harbour 13pts

#sb20 – The SB20 fleet were treated to conditions more befitting the Mediterranean on Sunday afternoon as they battled it out on Dublin Bay in 10-15knts of breeze and blistering sunshine. Although some of the fleet regulars were

absent due to the fact that they have already departed for the Italian Nationals on Lake Garda in preparation for the upcoming World Championships, the fleet were delighted to see the welcome return of "Lupi d'Irlanda" (Marco Sorgassi et al) helmed on the day by veteran SB'er Tim Burke and "Mephisto" (John Lyons et al) helmed on the day by team racing legend Sam Hunt. In fact, there were three guest helmsmen in the fleet with regular SB crew Gavin Murphy ably getting to grips with the tiller once more on Seriously Bonkers (Peter Lee et al) as Peter familiarises himself with the role of "middle man" in preparation for the Worlds.

OOD Barry O'Neill and his team set up the windward/leeward course in the vicinity of Merrion mark between the west pier and Dublin Port, the area used to such good effect in the recent Leinster Championships.

With a strong ebbing tide favouring the left hand side of the course and a wind forecast to clock around to the right all day long, this was going to pose a tricky test for the competitors.

After a brief postponement to gather the fleet, Race 1 got off at the first time of asking. By the weather mark , it was clear that the left hand side of the course had paid as the expected right hand shift had yet to materialise. First around the mark was the SB prodigal son Tim Burke and team in Lupi d'Irlanda followed closely by Sam Hunt and team on Mephisto. Clearly nobody had told the newbies that it was just plain rude to give the regulars a spanking in their first race back! The two leaders were hotly pursued by Sin Bin (Michael O'Connor, Owen Laverty and Kevin Johnson) with a small gap to a bunch consisting of Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey, Chris Nolan and Rory Groves), Rubadubdub (Nick Doherty, Conor and Rob) and Bango (James Gorman, Ted Laverty and Keith Staunton).

Lupi were the first to gybe off approximately one third of the way down the first run with the remainder of the fleet holding on longer on starboard gybe. At the leeward mark, Lupi's decision to gybe off early was vindicated as they led Mephisto around the leeward mark by a length with Sin Bin rounding on Mephisto's transom. The wind started to oscillate as the boats progressed up the second beat and it was Mephisto that picked out the best path to the weather mark, overtaking Lupi and leading the
fleet at the second weather mark, a lead they were to hold onto to the finish. Bango also made good gains on the second upwind leg picking their way through the fleet and improving up to fourth place. Misfortune struck
Lupi while hoisting their kite at the second weather mark as they tore a sizeable gash in their spinnaker but commendably, they held on to second place to the finish despite the best efforts of Sin Bin and Bango chasing
hard. At the end it was Mephisto followed by Lupi, Sin Bin, Bango, Rubadubdub and Venuesworld.com.

Race 2 saw a return to form of the "regulars" (phew!). Once again, the left hand side of the first beat paid handsomely with Sin Bin and Lupi coming in from the left hand corner while the remainder of the fleet seemed to play the percentages and the shifts closer to the middle of the course. At the weather mark, Sin Bin led by a few lengths from Mephisto, again putting in a solid showing, with Venuesworld.com a few boatlengths further back in third. Unfortunately for Lupi, they had marginally overstood the weather mark and lost ground ducking boats and trying to find a gap to tack onto the starboard layline and get around the mark.

After a lot of shouting, Lupi rounded in fourth overlapped with Rubadubdub in fifth and Seriously Bonkers also overlapped in a very close sixth.

Down the first run, Venuesworld spotted a new line of breeze coming down the left hand side and were first to gybe off, followed by Sin Bin some moments later. The remainder of the fleet continued on starboard towards
the right hand side of the run. The new breeze also came with a significant right hand shift favouring Venuesworld and Sin Bin, allowing these two boats pull out a lead on the chasing pack who by now were struggling to get up to the leeward gate. The significant right hander meant that passing the leaders was going to be difficult for the chasing pack so at the finish it was Sin Bin in first followed by Venuesworld.com in second. Lupi followed them over in a creditable third place and Bango managed to get the upper hand on Mephisto after the pair had rounded the
leeward mark with Mephisto overlapped to weather. In sixth was Probably (Ian Simmington, Billy Riordan and Mark Nolan) after a "Lazarus-style" comeback to get back into the fray.

After a brief delay to allow the Race Officer and his team of rescue crew reset the course, Race 3 also got off at the first time of asking. This time, it was clear that the tide was going to be less of a factor and playing the shifting breeze and finding more pressure was where the
largest gains lay. It seemed that the pressure was better on the right hand side of the course and shortly after the start, Seriously Bonkers and Mephisto were the quickest to peel off onto port tack, ducking transoms in
search of the fresher breeze and expected shift. The move paid off handsomely as by the time the remainder of the fleet had peeled off onto port (only a minute or two later), the pair of early tackers were already in a new breeze and were able to cross the fleet as they came back towards the fleet on starboard.

However, the fleet did manage to reel in the early leaders and by the weather mark, Mephisto lead by the narrowest of margins from Sin Bin with Seriously Bonkers and the chasing pack near astern. A savage hoist by
Kevin and Owen on Sin Bin allowed them to roll over Mephisto at the spreader mark, forcing Mephisto to gybe onto port immediately.

Sin Bin followed suit a few boatlengths later heading off towards the left hand side of the run with Mephisto. The remainder of the fleet spread out evenly down the run. As the fleet converged in the middle of the run, it was clear that those boats that kept on longer on starboard gybe had fared better and gained ground with both Lupi and Bango coming into contention half way down the run. By now, the wind was quite light and the boats were in low mode, soaking down to the leeward marks at only 5 knots.

By the first leeward, Sin Bin had managed to hold on and led around the mark by five boatlengths from Mephisto and Lupi in a battle for second. Up the second beat, the wind was oscillating by up to 20 degrees so large gains and losses were still to be made and positions changed regularly. By the second weather mark, the wind was in a left hand phase making starboard the favoured gybe initially down the final run of the day. Those
boats that gybed off at the second weather mark were punished severely as the boats that held on made significant gains. At the finish, it was Sin Bin in first followed by Lupi in second with Bango charging through the fleet on the second run into third place. Venuesworld.com came home in fourth followed by Mephisto in fifth and Rubadubdub in sixth.

Congratulations to Barry O'Neill and his team on the committee vessel managing to get off three great races in a tricky shifting breeze.

In other news, the next Sunday races (for those not lucky enough to be in Lake Garda already!) are next Sunday, 21st June followed by the final three races of series two on Sunday 28th June. Mid-July and early August
will see the SB20 class joining the Dragon fleet for some Saturday racing - something to look forward to. Finally, best of luck to the nine-strong Irish contingent preparing to compete in the World Championships in
Torbole, Lake Garda from 4th - 10th July. The Irish sailors will be joined by, amongst others, former Olympians Glenn Bourke and (silver medallist) Rodion Luka. At the time of going to print, there were 86 registered entrants so exciting and tight racing is assured.