#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton), 3. Crazy Horse (F Heath & I Schuster)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith), 3. Wow (George Sisk)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Wow (George Sisk), 3. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Ruth (L Shanahan), 2. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Ruth (L Shanahan), 2. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Antix (D Ryan), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Jambiya (Ryan & Lattimore)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 2. Quest (B Cunningham), 3. Cries of Passion (B Maguire)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Quest (B Cunningham), 2. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 3. Cries of Passion (B Maguire)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 2. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain), 3. Taiscealai (B Richardson)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall), 2. Small Wonder (H Kelly), 3. Saki (Paget McCormack et al)

Combined Classes Echo - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

Combined Classes - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams), 3. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Ignis Caput (David Mulvey), 2. Betty (D & S Gorman), 3. Fflogger (Alan Dooley)

GLEN - 1. Glenmiller (P Cusack), 2. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes), 3. Glendun (B.Denham et al)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada), 2. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 3. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown)

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

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Euphanzel lll (M Muldoon), 3. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

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

SQUIB - 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Sidewinder (R&R Westrup), 3. Femme Fatale (V Delaney)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. More Mischief (Eamonn Doyle), 2. White Lotus (Paul Tully), 3. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith)

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

#dbscfireball – Six Fireballs rocked up for the first DBSC Tuesday race last night and were treated to two snappy W–L races in the harbour writes Frank Miller. Earlier the signs were not looking good, the day was very gusty and wind guru at one point was predicting 38 knot gusts for the evening.

There were deep black clouds to the west but conditions in the harbour were almost balmy with the odd challenging gust. The race committee decided to go ahead and set two windward leeward races in the harbour, an excellent call in the circumstances as it got the Tuesday series off with a bang. The wind was flicking more and more southerly which caused a slightly delayed start but when the fleet got away there was a significant pin bias.

The Clancys took their chances on a port start approach from amongst cruisers and pulled away sweetly and quickly chased by the pack with Butler/Tedz closest on their heels. The leeward spreader pin caught at least on boat out as Miller/Butler had to return for a proper rounding in a thicket of lasers.

The run rewarded those who went a bit high and gybed back at a fast angle rather than the straight rhumb line though gusts changed ideal angled frequently. On the water this correspondent thought the Clancys got the gun just ahead of Butler/Tedz but the official results don't reflect their presence, perhaps a bit of tidying up to be done on paperwork.

For race 2 the W mark was moved further left giving a cleaner beat though once again left seemed to pay as it was feeding in some welcom gusts. This time there was no doubt that Butler/Tedz were in control pretty well from start to finish followed by the Clancy brothers. The downwind finish was a novelty which worked well. Hats off to DBSC for the innovation of allowing for 2 races on a Tuesday which despite some reservations in the fleet certainly paid off last night. Roll on next Tuesday and we look forward to a fuller complement and more red dots on the water.

DBSC results HERE

#dbsclaser – The first DBSC Tuesday Laser dinghy race drew a really encouraging turnout of 15 boats, 14 of which were Full rigs (more Radials expected post exams). Race Officer Ian Matthews wisely kept the fleet inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour with a squally offshore breeze. The fleet enjoyed two super W/L races with extremely close competition throughout. In Race 1 Conor Byrne showed exactly why he's a fairly recent National Champion by getting the first shift and sailing away to a comfortable victory. Race 2 was dominated by young gun Dan O'Beirne who added the bullet to his 2nd in race 1, emerging as boat of the night v's Byrne's 1 and 3, the latter a great recovery from an individual recall. The Cahill brothers Cian and Patrick showed well too and a few of the older guys had their moments. Results here. Online entry to join in a very exciting season is here 

#dbsc – CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Wynward (W McCormack), 2. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 3. Pamafe (M Costello)

Ensign - 1. INSS (K Rumball), 2. INSS 2 (G Williams), 3. INSS 2 ()

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 3. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. No Name (B McGuire)

Laser Race 1- 1. Conor Byrne (RSGYC), 2. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 3. Sean Craig (RSGYC)

Laser Race 2- 1. Dan O'Beirne (RSGYC), 2. Rob Cahill (RSGYC), 3. Conor Byrne (RSGYC)

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

Click for last night's DBSC Laser report

Click for last night's DBSC Fireball report

#flyingfifteen – The Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers again with 13 boats competing in the first DBSC Saturday race of the season on a surprisingly cold day. Race Officer Suzanne McGarry and her team on Freebird managed to get in two races in varied and tricky conditions.
Race 1: the tide was coming in and the wind from the north was a good force three but shifty, the committee boat was biased end at the start, Ben Mulligan sailing with Alan Green got a great start. After a short while on the starboard most boats tacked out to the right, Gorman/Doorly kept going and on the shift got into the lead before the weather mark just ahead of Mathews/Poole and Mulligan who was closely followed by Galvin and Mulvin, this is how it stayed down wind. On the second beat the wind was getting lighter and patchy, Mathews took the lead but Gorman got back by going more left, these two changed lead a few time on the next lap with Gorman eventually getting ahead. On the fourth lap the race was shortened, there was slight confusion as the leeward mark was close to the committee boat/line. Gorman was out on the left and went straight to the line as did Mathews, with no hooters they went back and rounded the leeward mark and then finished with Gorman winning, as all this was going on Mulligan slipped past Mathews to finish second. The Galvin brothers were fourth with Justin Maguire fifth.
Race 2: There was little or no wind now but racing started with the majority of boats starting at the pin and heading out left, Gorman tacked off to the right to get clear air, this worked as he took the lead, closely followed by Mathews, Mulvin and Mulligan. On the second beat Gorman kept the boat moving and had a good lead as he head over to the lef towards the weather mark, when he tacked the boats just stopped- no wind! Mathews and Mulvin with Mulvin taking the lead. On the slow drift down towards the finish, any of the three could win. Mathews gybed inside Mulvin and got the win, followd very closely by Mulvin with Gorman in third. Mulligan/Green were a comfortable fourth, with Maguire fifth and Sherry sixth..

Well done to the PRO Suzanne McGarry and here team on Freebird for persevering and getting the racing in. This Thursday the DBSC series continues.

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo - 1. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 2. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson), 3. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Jigamaree (R Harris)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

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

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

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Pamafe (M Costello), 2. Quest (J Skerritt), 3. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Quest (J Skerritt), 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews), 2. Betty (D & S Gorman), 3. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews), 2. Ignis Caput (David Mulvey), 3. Betty (D & S Gorman)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenshesk (Walker\Reid\Henderson)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dart (Pierre Long)

MERMAID Race 1- 1. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Paramour (Larry Power et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 2. Invader (Gerard Glynn)

SIGMA 33 Echo - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SIGMA 33 IRC- 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Pintail (T McAllister), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 3. Pintail (T McAllister)

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

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

#flyingfifteen –  The Mitsibushi Motors sponsored Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in good numbers with 13 boats competing in the first race of the DBSC 2015 season on a beautiful sunny evening with a nice force 3 breeze from the S/SE on Dublin Bay.

In their eagerness to get the season started and with the help of a strong ebbing tide a number of boats were over the line, some went back and some didn't! The pin was biased but there was more wind in towards the shore. Colman/Quinn and O'Sullivan/Ryan who started at the pin and tacked across were in good shape approaching the first mark followed closely by Doorly/Green and Alan Balfe.

This is the way it stayed for the first half of the race, Doorly got past O'Sullivan on the run down to Pier mark, it was a beat back up to Omega mark and then a run to Pier, on the run the wind was stronger from the back and the fleet closed up with Gorman, sailing with Sarah, and McCambridge moving up the fleet after poor starts. Colman remained in front with Doorly close behind and then a gap to Mulvin/Beirne. Colman/Quinn crossed the line but there was no gun so Doorly/Green got the first gun of the season. Mulvin was second with Gorman third followed by Balfe and O'Sullivan who had sailed a very good race.

Well done to the PRO Jack Roy and his team on Freebird for a great race in perfect conditions. This Saturday the DBSC series starts and it is hoped that a few more boats will make it out.

Full DBSC results from last night's racing here

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. After You Too (Michael Blaney), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson)

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith), 2. Wow (George Sisk)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Ruth (L Shanahan), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Boomerang (Paul Kirwan)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Joker 11 (John Maybury)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Albireo (D Simpson), 2. Antix (D Ryan), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Jambiya (Ryan & Lattimore)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Hard on Port (F O'Driscoll), 2. Grasshopper 2 (K & J Glynn), 3. Quest (B Cunningham)

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

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Wynward (W McCormack), 2. Small Wonder (H Kelly), 3. Chinook (A Bradley/P Morgan)

Combined Classes IRC- 1. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

Combined Classes ECHO- 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams), 3. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Ignis Caput (David Mulvey), 3. Betty (D & S Gorman)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 3. Paramour (Larry Power et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (Heath, Miles, Crisp, Duggan), 2. Poppy (P Beamish), 3. Euphanzel lll (M Muldoon)

SIGMA 33 IRC- 1. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

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

SIGMA 33 ECHO- 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Fortitudine (D & A Clarke), 2. More Mischief (Eamonn Doyle), 3. Cevantes (Paul Conway)

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

#dbsc – Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) will bring its starting sequence into line with world sailing norms when it starts the first race of the 2015 season tomorrow night.

All DBSC Keelboat classes will now start using the international Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 26 - 5/4/1/start, sequence.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club is the country's largest yacht racing organisation providing weekly racing for approximately 300 boats across 22 different classes and more than 1,300 sailors. Read a preview of the DBSC 2015 season here.

The decision to bring the capital's yacht racing into line with standard practice in all other regattas both on Dublin Bay and at other venues is to avoid confusion to competitors who regularly sail under the standard RRS26 when not competing in DBSC.

New Principal Race Officer for DBSC Jack Roy, an Olympic Games Race Officer from London 2012, believes this is a positive step in bringing less confusion to sailors and at the same time giving the many DBSC Race Officers the flexibility to use all the preparatory signals available to them for starting races. 'It is important that DBSC racing is conducted to the highest race management standards, bringing our starting sequences in line with RRS26 is an important step', he told Afloat.ie

A further benefit is that it enables Race Officers the flexibility to use alternative Preparatory Signals, if so required. The old system was restricted to a "P" preparatory signal only. There will also be a clearer sequence, as per the RRS for getting back into a sequence after a "General Recall" or "AP" signal has been displayed.

The change also brings the summer racing in line with the DBSC Turkey Shoot and Spring Chicken series.

#dbsc – The boats are lifted in, 23 racing marks are laid across the Bay and the Dublin Bay Sailing Club yearbook has been posted to 1,200 members. It means only one thing; the biggest sailin league in the country – is about to start.

For the 2015 season there have been tweaks to the DBSC racing format.

In the keelboat divisions, the trend of mixed handicap and one-design racing will be carried further when the Sigma 33 class start racing with Cruisers 2.

The Sigmas enjoyed a considerable popularity in Dublin Bay since they emerged as a separate class in 2000 but recently this has waned. Re-joining Cruisers 2 on the starting line, with which they raced earlier, should provide all concerned with more competition, according to Sigma captain Paddy Maguire.

The Sigmas will retain their separate identity, and will continue to receive separate results, as will Cruisers 2. But overall ECHO and IRC results will be provided for the combined fleets. 

In the foreword to the 2015 DBSC yearbook, Commodore Pat Shannon comments:

'There was a time when DBSC was almost entirely a one-design club – in fact, Dublin Bay, deservedly or not, had the reputation of being "the home of one-design racing". The reason advanced for this accolade was that Ireland was not on the same economic level as our more affluent neighbours. One-design racing suited our pockets. We could not afford – so the argument goes – the constant innovation, the frequent model changes that is the hallmark of cruiser racing.

Such is no longer the situation. Whether or not economics has anything to do with it, cruiser racers form an important part of the Dublin Bay fleet – up to one- third in 2014. Cruiser racers, yes, but with a qualification. For some, like the 31.7s, the distinction between cruisers and one-designs is academic, since, in essence, they are one-design and receive one-design points, the accompanying ECHO handicap points providing an award system for boats that may not be in a position to compete on level rating.

The one-design/cruiser distinction is not so absolute either in Cruisers 1. The J109s constitute a major part of the fleet, and in addition to IRC and ECHO results, also receive points for one-design

This trend of mixed handicap/ one-design racing is carried a step further in this season's programme, with the Sigma 33 class racing with Cruisers 2. The Sigmas enjoyed a considerable popularity in Dublin Bay since they emerged as a separate class in 2000 but recently this has waned. Re-joining Cruisers 2 on the starting line, with which they raced earlier, should provide all concerned with more competition and more enjoyable racing. The Sigmas will retain their separate identity, and will continue to receive separate results, as will also Cruisers 2. But overall ECHO and IRC result will be provided for the combined fleets.

The dinghy situation continues to occupy the committee's minds. We conducted an on-line questionnaire during last season among interested parties to see what changes to the programme might encourage more entrants and more classes but no clear pattern or consensus emerged. Further discussions took place over the winter months with dinghy representatives which will result in some changes to the 2015 programme'. 

The first 2015 DBSC Races are: Tuesday 28th April, Thursday 23rd April and Saturday 25th April. The last races of the season will be: Tuesday 25th August, Thursday 27th August
Saturday 26th Sept.