Dublin Bay Melges15 Fleet to Make DBSC Debut in 2024

9th February 2024

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Melges15 fleet will join Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) 2024 summer season racing starting this April

As the Irish Melges 15 dinghy fleet grows and evolves, Dublin Bay's newest class will debut in Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) 2024 summer season racing starting this April.

The fledgeling two-man class are looking forward to racing on Tuesday nights and Saturday afternoons as part of the DBSC card.

It's another shot in the arm for the country's biggest racing club which has already signalled a busy season and new committee vessel for its 140th season.

"With at least 12 boats, the class will have its own DBSC start"

With boats sailing out of Royal Irish Yacht Club, National Yacht Club and the initial base Royal St George Yacht Club next season, the coordination and structure that DBSC can provide will be especially welcome, according to Melges Ireland promoter John Sheehy.

With at least 12 boats to enter, the class will have its own start.

Melges 15 dinghies racing off Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Details for the Irish Summer calendar are being finalised but the imminent fleet in Howth will no doubt be looking to make the most of home advantage as they will host the Irish Nationals Championships on August 24th 25th.

With the Melges15 being launched in the UK later this month at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports show, it is expected that some overseas visitors may also participate, according to Sheehy.

Published in Melges 15, DBSC

Published in Melges 15

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Melges 15

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About the Melges 15 Dinghy

The Melges 15 was designed by Reichel/Pugh and built by Melges.

The design prioritises stability, comfort, ease of use, and performance.

The Melges 15 is built to be sailed by everyone from friends and couples to families and kids. The design offers performance, comfort, and stability in one sleek package.

The Melges 15’s stable hull shape and ergonomic cockpit make it a suitable layout for adult racing and educational sailing. Easy conversion from a club configuration (non-spinnaker) to a one-design setup, provides more versatility to club programs and options for individual owners.

“The Melges 15 creates a clear pathway for junior sailors to get started and stay excited about sailing while also being comfortable and accessible enough for adults to learn, race, or cross-train,” according to Harry Melges III.

With the main design goals focused on stability and performance in various conditions, the boat features a narrow overall beam and a flat cross-section shape for stability, righting moment, and ease of planing. For a more forgiving feel upwind and to navigate larger sea states, the Melges 15 has just the right amount of fore and aft rocker.

Melges conducted extensive research and product testing to produce this layout factoring in cockpit depth, backbone height, and floor plan. The result, they say, is a comfortable environment for both the skipper and crew. The deeper cockpit takes the load off the sailor’s knees helping them feel locked into the boat while the high boom and gnav vang system work together to make the boat easier to manoeuvre.

The asymmetric spinnaker offers an additional performance element, while the single-pull launch and retrieval system makes handling the sail easy and fast.