#DMYC – A new annual award to recognise the outstanding contribution by junior sailors was launched yesterday by Sir Bob Geldof at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DYMC). The DMYC Bob Geldof Spirit of Sailing Memorial Award is named in honour of the late Bob Geldof, father of Sir Bob Geldof, who was a long standing member of the DMYC. The first recipient of the Award was Conor Ryan (age 17) from Dalkey . He was presented with the Award at a ceremony on Saturday by Sir Bob Geldof in recognition of excellence in demanding sailing and racing achievements. In particular Conor's swift transfer from junior sailing rank to full DBSC (Dublin Bay Sailing Club) racing membership was commended.

According to Liam Owens, Commodore, DMYC , the Memorial award comes at a fitting time when the Club has a number of initiatives to highlight the many benefits of sailing to young people.

"The late Bob Geldof was an avid and accomplished sailor. He was a founding member of our Club back in 1965 and always encouraged and nurtured young people who wanted to gain experience and enjoy our sport. He was a much loved member of the DMYC from its earliest years until his death. The Geldof family mindful of his close connections with our Club has donated this new annual award to commemorate his memory and to inspire a new generation of junior sailors at the DMYC."

"This award is particularly apt, as we are actively seeking to promote the fun, energetic and thrill of sailing to young people. We want to encourage more people to embrace the sport and get out on the water and to help people in these recessionary times we are offering free membership to 16-19 year olds. New members do not need to have their own boat and existing members are always delighted to welcome newcomers to crew on their boats".

The DMYC has always maintained a key priority on offering 'affordable sailing'. It provides relevant support and back-up for a diverse range of marine activities such as angling, diving as well as for the core activity of the club – Sailing. The DMYC contributes to Dublin Bay racing through its organisation of its September Series and the Winter Frostbites for the more experienced sailors. The Club organises Junior Sail Training Programmes and is strongly involved in organising cruises-in-company for more mature sailors in Summertime to selected ports and locations up and down the Irish Sea and cross-channel.

"We like to think of our club as a home from home for members. Throughout the Winter season we host a strong and vibrant series of guest lectures on areas of cultural and nautical interest. These are highly popular social suppers where both Members, their friends as well as non-members can enjoy. It is fitting today that we announce our memorial award to one of those members, the late Bob Geldof who certainly viewed our Club as a home from home," concludes Commodore Owens.

#dmyc – Sir Bob Geldof will present an award made in memory of his late father to an outstanding junior sailor in Dun Laoghaire next month. The 'Bob Geldof Spirit of Sailing Award' for outstanding junior sailors will be presented at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) where Bob senior was a founder member,  on Saturday, July 21st next.

#MARITIME LECTURE - This 'Thursday's Night Talk' organised by the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) is entitled 'Round Ireland 2011 Over Two Months'. Tomorrow's talk starts at 8pm and is to be presented by Gary Owens.

None members are also welcome to attend the winter lecture talks, held on Thursdays which will continue until April, noting the theme of the talks are not exclusively marine orientated. For further information Tel: 280 1371 and by visiting www.dmyc.ie

The DMYC is situated on the West Pier, close to Salthill and Monkstown DART station and car-parking is available beside the premises and also at the nearby Coal Harbour.

#FIREBALL – Fifteen Fireballs took to the water for last Sunday's Frostbite race but only 14 of them got a finish – Andy Boyle & Barry Hurley (14934, Royal Irish) – were recorded as an OCS! Wind conditions were lively with a WSW Force 4/5 blowing with gusts flashing across the course. The start had a boat-end bias for a change and my various correspondents advise that there were a few capsizes on the day. It also appears that people were doing 720º and 360º for rule infringements and mark-touching.

The first three boats over the finish line, Noel Butler & Stephen Oram, Neil Spain & Hugh Butler and Owen Laverty & Ed Butler effectively sailed their own separate race from the rest of the fleet and they enjoyed a race of nip and tuck with places changing between them.

Neil Colin & Margaret Casey finished fourth but behind them a tight bunch were fighting for places. Included in this group were Messrs Rumball & Moran, Malcolm & Diviney, Court & Syme and Miller/Donnelly before the all-lady teams of McKenna & O'Keefe and Power & Barry.

The ladies were well represented today with three all-female teams out on the water, the third being Mary Chambers and Brenda McGuire, who finished thirteenth. Derval O'Carroll was also a welcome returnee to the Frostbites, sailing with Stephen Campion. And our Sligo friends, Peter Armstrong & Matt mayron were also out sailing the all-wooden 15060.

Class stalwart Louis Smyth, sailing with Joe O'Reilly, had a bad day at the office – an early interaction with another boat required a 720º with a capsize thrown in as a "double-whammy". At the first weather mark there was another revolution taken when they hit the mark. "Enough said!"

Mug winners for the day were the ladies of 14691, Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keefe of the Royal St. George Yacht Club.

In overall terms, Butler & Oram stretched their lead over Rumball/Moran to 5pts, while the latter pair have a comfortable 8pt margin over third placed Laverty/Butler.

#MARITIME LECTURES – This weeks 'Thursday' Night Talk organised by the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) is indeed about the very strange tale of the "Ouzel Galley".

Not many folk are aware that Dublin had its own maritime mystery that ranks with the Marie (Mary) Celeste saga.

In 1625 the Ouzel Galley sailed out the River Liffey bound for Mediterranean waters. After an absence of five years she returned battered and bruised confounding locals who had presumed she was lost with all hands.

It was not the unexpected return that caused excitement at the time but the contents of her hold!...Tim Magennis shall reveal more of  this extraordinary story on the evening starting at 8pm.

Thursday's (9th February) talk is part of a winter series held at the DMYC and is open to non members who are most welcome. The club located on the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Harbour is close to Salthill DART station. To contact the club Tel: 280 1371 and visit www.dmyc.ie

#FROSTBITE–Frank Miller and Grattan Donnelly were the winners of the single Fireball dinghy race this afternoon in perfect conditions after last night's gale at the DMYC Frostbite series in Dun Laoghaire harbour. The handicap dinghy PY winners were Colin Galavan and Ciaran Boyle. The Laser winner was Gary O'Hare.

Fireballs at the windward mark in this afternoon's DMYC Frostbite race in Dun Laoghaire Harbour and below Ben Mulligan and two young crew compete in the PY class Photos: Bob Hobby

The 'Frostbites' tag was something of an oxymoron yesterday in Dun Laoghaire with temperatres in the teens for a double header sailing day at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club dinghy Frostbites series.  In the PYs first race RS sailors Emmet Ryan / Richard Tate were the winners. In the Lasers it was Justin Geoghegan and  Noel Butler and Stephen Oram were winners of the Fireball division.

In the second race Hugh Sheehy was the PY winner, Will Nesbit won in the Lasers and sailmaker Kenny Rumball sailing with David Moran were Fireball winners.

#DMYC FROSTBITE – Although the strong winds put some doubt about yesterday's in harbour sailing at Dun Laoghaire the second race of the DMYC Frosbites got away on schedule  in spite of the very shifty conditions.

Hugh Butler crewing for Graeme Grant on their way to winning the Fireball Class in yesterday's DMYC Frostbite race in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Bob Hobby

Dublin Bay Sailing Club IDRA 14 Champions Frank Hamilton and Jenny Byrne (DMYC) were the winners of the Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) handicap dinghy fleet. The Royal St. George's Theo Lyttle won the Laser class with the top prize in the high performance Fireball dinghy going to Graeme Grant and Hugh Butler (RStGYC).

Monica Lee sailing upwind in her Supernova dinghy during yesterday's DMYC Frosdtbite race in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Bob Hobby

#DMYC FROSTBITES – The First race of the 41st Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club dinghy frostbite series got underway in light breeze inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour yesterday afternoon in brilliantly sunny conditions.
The winner of the ever popular PY fleet was harbour local Alyson Rumball sailing an RS 200. The Laser class winner was Peter Craig with new Fireball class boss Neil Colin with Margaret Casey crewing the winners of the high performance Fireball fleet. More racing next Sunday.

Barry Hurley and Brian Flahive roll tack their Fireball during yesterday's opening race of the 41st annual Dun Laoghaire Motior Yacht Club Frostbite Challenge. Photo: Bob Hobby

Since our report on Ireland's debut at the Moth worlds in January it was inevitable that one of these high speed sailing dinghies would appear on Irish waters soon enough. Yesterday, John Chambers took his first tack of 2011 on Dublin Bay in a Moth he bought in France. Clearly the high speed foiling craft did not go unnoticed. It got an immediate thumbs up from the nearby DMYC frostbite fleet sailing their penultimate race.

The Bladerider Moth came blasting back from the Baily lighthouse, according to eyewitness accounts.  It has hydrofoils on the dagger board and rudder which lift the boat out of the water when sufficient speed is achieved.

It is Chamber's intention to sail the innovative dinghy in this Summer's Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) summer season. 

Video of the Dublin Bay sail plus a photo from Bob Hobby is below:

Moth sailing on Dublin bay. Photo: Bob Hobby

Moth sailing in Ireland on facebook HERE