#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.

#dbsc – Fifteen DBSC Lasers enjoyed two races last night in a lovely warm, oscillating breeze, again within the confines of our wonderful Dun Laoghaire harbour. Race Officer Ian Matthews was on his game as usual, with square lines, course reconfigurations and no hesitation in bringing out the black flag to put manners on an ultra-eager fleet. Two great races saw a totally different top three in each, with Race 1 going to ISA Youth National Champion Conor O'Beirne (replacing bro Dan who's in Canada) followed by Gary O'Hare, then Paul Keane. Marco Sorgassi had got a peach of a start and led all the way up the first beat. Race 2 saw John Marmelstein, just returning to Lasers, take a great win, holding off Sean Craig and Patrick Cahill. No Radials adjusted into top three this time, but Shirley Gilmore took a creditable 4th in race 2. Possible highlight of this race was Rory McStay attempting to overtake O'Beirne at the downwind finish by rushing forward for a swallow dive off the bow. Interesting interpretation of the following Racing Rule/Definition ; Finish: A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line from the course side. Another RStGYC instructor, Luke Murphy, also displayed fine seamanship by testing the gap between daggerboard and slot. Funnily enough there's not a lot of space in there for hand plus foil and he duly retired, blood dribbling out behind his transom !

With weather like this and 25 entries on the books so far, we must be quite close to our first 20 boat turnout. Last night followed on from an excellent Royal Alfred Bloomsday Regatta where the 17 Lasers were the largest one design fleet (dinghy or keelboat). We hope for the same or more for VDLR on July 9-12. Entry here Join us even if you can only make the weekend and remember the Thursday is a nice late start at 3.30 pm. There'll also be two discards for those juggling other commitments.

#dbsc – CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Borraine (Ean Pugh), 3. Utopia (J Healy)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Yikes (J Conway), 2. Saki (McCormack/Ryan/Ryan), 3. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn) Ensign - 1. INSS (K Rumball), 2. INSS 2 (G Williams), 3. NYC1 (A Dooley)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 3. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

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

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Chaos (Pam McKay)

Laser - 1. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 2. Gary O'Hare (RSGYC), 3. Rob Cahill (RSGYC)

PY CLASS - 1. Tom Murphy (K1), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor
Duffy (RS400)

PY CLASS - 1. Tom Murphy (K1), 2. W Zyszczynsk (Laser Vago), 3. Conor
Duffy (RS400)

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

SIGMA 33 - 1. Springer (I Bowring)

SQUIB - 1. Chillax (E & D Totterdell), 2. Tais (Michael O'Connell), 3.
Sidewinder (R&R Westrup)

#waterwags – On 10th June there was high pressure, hardly a cloud in the sky but unfortunately there was almost no wind. The Water Wags rowed, sculled and paddled to the race area in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Despite the conditions twenty Water Wags lined up perfectly for the start. Initially the race was very slow. Then a breeze built up to about 5 knots from the north-east. Cathy MacAleavy in Mollie led the fleet heading towards the west pier lighthouse while Frank Guy in Gavotte led a smaller fleet heading towards the Boyd Memorial. As the fleet reached the windward mark off the east pier lighthouse they realized that there was a strong west-running tide. This caused some boats to underlay the windward mark. The rounding order was Mollie, Nandor, Tortoise. Pansy, The spinnaker run allowed the following boats to steel the wind from the boats ahead, but Mollie was so far ahead that she was untouchable.

By the second round the order was: Mollie, Ethna, Gavotte, Tortoise. Place changes were taking place partly due to the advantage in rounding the port side leeward mark.

On the final beat the wind disappeared again. Some of the leaders began to feel stress. Gavotte closed the gap between Mollie and the rest of the fleet. Tortise recovered the ground she had lost of the earlier rounds. Then a new wind appeared, at first gentle (about 2 knots) from the north and then it swung to the north west, and finally to the south west, allowing most of the fleet to fly spinnakers on the last beat.

Finishing order:

1st. Mollie, No. 41, Cathy MacAleavey & Con Murphy (winner division IA)
2nd. Gavotte, No.25, Frank Guy & Owen McNally.
3rd. Tortoise, No. 42, William & Linda Prentice.
4th. Pansy, No. 3, Vincent Delany & Noelle Breen.
5th. Ethna, No.1, Bill Nolan. (winner division IB)
6th. Alfa, No. 12, Michael Donohoe.
7th. Nandor, No. 26, Brian McBride & Harry Croxon. (winner division 2)
8th. Swift, No.38, Guy & Jacky Kilroy.
9th. Vela, No.4, Brian Bond & Mary Ryder.
10th. Scallywag, No.44, Dan O'Connor & David Williams.
11th. Good Hope, No.18, Hal Sisk & Sue Westrup.
12th. Eros, No. 08, Gail Varian & Gavan Johnson.
13th. Little Tern, No.36, Marcus Pearson.
14th. Barbara, No. 8, Ian & Judith Malcolm.
15th. Eva, No.33, Orla Fitzgerald & Dermot O'Flynn.
16th. Penelope, No.16, Fergus Cullen & Alice Walsh.
17th. Swallow, No.40, David & Anne Clarke.
18th. Maureen, No.23, Killian Skay & Liz Croxon.
19th. Sprite, No. 10, Adrian Masterson.
20th. Chloe, No. 34, Kate O'Leary.

#fireballdbsc – Tuesday night's DBSC Fireball race was predictably tricky as one might have expected from the forecast of light winds dropping even lighter. The race committee wisely set up in the harbour and dropped marks for a windward-leeward course. Before the start the easterly wind shifted 20 degrees left creating a major port end bias on the quite long line and making the first beat a reach. The eight boat fleet got quite tangled up near the pin but a few got away cleanly notably Neil Colin and Margaret Casey who led to the windward mark. Those who sailed a bit high on the reach closed the gap but on the run the fleet spread out as boats picked their angles and placed their bets on where there might be a better puff or two.

Where there are ladders there are snakes and several fell into lighter holes including race leaders Colin/Casey. The Clancys took advantage and sailed a conservative but intelligent race staying ahead of the pack with Butler/Oram on their heels. The only other highlight on the course was provided by Cariosa Power sailing with her young son Odhran who was not tall enough to get the pole on and off the mast. In its place he became a human pole standing on the sidedeck with arm extended.

It may not be top class ISAF stuff but it was very effective and the lightweight family pairing pulled away from some of the heavyweights, and provided entertainment to boot on a pleasant Tuesday outing. Top three downwind finishers were the Clancys, Butler/Oram and McKenna/O'Keeffe.

#dbsclaser - Powers that be (and Winkie Nixon!) please take note! Dun Laoghaire Harbour again served up great DBSC dinghy racing last night that would have been simply impossible either (i) Outside, given very light wind and strong tide or (ii) With a new 435 metre pier stuck in the middle of the race course, occupied or not writes Sean Craig. Like the Water Wags on a Wednesday, junior racing on a Friday, Sunday Frostbiting all winter and as with a myriad of other racing, recreational and learn to sail activities, we may see our activities decimated, scaled back and pushed outside where the risk/safety factor rises exponentially. Worth considering is that out of six DBSC Tuesday night races so far in 2015, FIVE have had to take place inside the harbour. Indeed we could have had two more inside on a windy May 12 but for the Cruise Liner shuttle service which, in fact, knocked off business an hour before our start !

The racing round-up is perhaps secondary after that but what a great little race DBSC laid on. A season's best fifteen Lasers joined a great dinghy turnout. It would have been seventeen but (no names here!) one took a wrong turn and went outside the Harbour and another young hotshot overdid his road bike training and also missed the start ! Nice to see 4 Radials out. Off a pin biased line ex 420 ace Adam Hyland nailed the start, the first beat and led for the whole first lap. Gary O'Hare was up to second after a great run. On the second beat, Sean Craig and Luke Murphy broke away and held the top two places on a dicey downwind run to the finish. Mark Coakley was always there or thereabouts and claimed third ahead of the Cahill brothers.

We are delighted to support the Royal Alfred Yacht Club "Bloomsday" Regatta this Saturday June 13. RAYC have kindly added 4.7s to the ticket and we have 2 races, first gun 1130, good après in the RSTGYC after. Online entry and now also sailing Instructions here DBSC Tuesdays resume actual Bloomsday June 16!

#dbsc – Today's Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) yacht racing has been cancelled due to strong winds on Dublin Bay. At start time westerly winds averaged 22kts with gusts of 32kts from a direction of 249°.