Patrick Burke's First 40 Prima Forte from the Royal Irish Yacht Club produced a corrected time win of over a minute in a fine turnout of eight Cruisers Zero boats in Thursday's AIB DBSC Summer Series.

Racing took place in light southeasterly winds of about six knots and a flood tide on Dublin Bay.

The results put Burke just a single point behind the overall Thursday leader, Rockabill VI skippered by Paul O'Higgins of the RIYC.

O'Higgins did not compete last night with his JPK10.80 now positioned to West Cork for next week's Calves Week Regatta. 

Second in last night's Race 14 of the series was Chris Power-Smith's J122 Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club. Third was the late Vincent Farrell's First 40.7 Tsunami from the National Yacht Club. 

In a nine-boat Cruisers One IRC turnout, Timothy Goodbody's RIYC J109, White Mischief, won from clubmate Colin Byrne in the XP33 Bon Exemple. Third was Andrew Craig's Chimaera.

Lindsay J. Casey was the Cruisers Two race winner in the J97 Windjammer. In the Corby 25 Ruthless, Conor Ronan was second in a seven-boat turnout from Ian Bowring's Sigma 33 Springer.

In the one designs, as Afloat reports here, Ian Mathews and  Keith Poole were the Flying Fifteen winners. 

Full DBSC results below

In a fine 11-boat turnout in IRC One, Colin Byrne's Royal Irish XP33 Bon Exemple beat Paul Barrington's J109 Jalapeno from the National Yacht Club in Saturday's AIB DBSC Summer Series race on July 23rd.

Third was Barrington's clubmate John Hall in the J109 Something Else in the one-and-a-quarter-hour race. 

Winds on Dublin Bay were light and from the southeast. The Race Officer was Con Murphy.

Lindsay J. Casey's J97 Windjammer was the Cruisers II IRC division winner. The Royal St. George yacht, a double winner of the club's premier Waterhouse shield for the best yacht on handicap, took the gun from Conor Ronan's Corby 25 Ruthless. Third in the 7-boat race was Stephanie Bourke's Sigma 33 Boojum.

Kevin Byrne's  Royal St. George Formula 28 Starlet was the IRC 3 winner from Frazer Meredith's Asterix. Third was Freddie Wood's Black Sheep.

In the One Design fleets, Colin Galavan's Carpe Diem was the winner of a three-boat SB20 fleet.

Full results across all DBSC classes below.

Sixteen Flying Fifteens took to the water for the first July Thursday race of DBSC and needed a second attempt at starting to get the race underway. Race Officer John McNeilly set a simple “triangle – sausage course” using Bulloch, Island and Pier, with the “sausage” being between Pier and Island. There was then a short upwind leg from Pier to the finish. Despite John’s warning of the consequences of an ebbing tide a General Recall was signalled for the first start and thereafter the fleet got underway under a “U” Flag. It is only on review of the results for this report that I see that one boat fell foul of the “U” flag.

The wind was not in accordance with the forecast I use, coming from a SE direction, hence the use of Bulloch as the windward mark. With an ebbing tide all evening, the question was, “Where was the better wind”, which wasn’t in huge supply in the first place. The first beat had crews sitting on the windward deck but that was about as good as it got. At the pin end of the start that got away, we had two boats attempting a port-tack start. One was more successful than the other, Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (4028) clearing the entire fleet off the line. Ben Mulligan & Cormac Bradley (4081) didn’t quite achieve that and had to wend their way through the starboard tack boats to get clear air. Others at the pin end, coming from the committee boat end included Adrian Cooper & Joe McNamara (3896) and Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey (3955). These two would dominate the front end of the fleet for the whole night with Adrian & Joe McNamara leading the race around every mark bar the last one, when Ken & Joe took over that mantle.
Having worked their way to the inshore side of the course Colin and Mulligan found that others who had started off inshore were in slightly better shape. In this latter bunch we would find Gerry Ryan & crew (4045) Niall & Susan Coleman (4008), Niall Meagher & Nicki Matthews (3938) and Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey (3774). At the rounding of Bulloch the order was Cooper, Dumpleton, Ryan, Colin & Mulligan with Meagher, Coleman, Alistair Court & Conor O’Leary (3753) and Murphy & Mulvey breathing down Mulligan’s neck.

The long spinnaker leg to Pier saw the fleet spread across the course and initially those who went off to sea fared better, but further down the leg, having transitioned from inshore to offshore, Mulligan looked to have gained places, until breeze came in from the inshore side to see, Meagher, Court, Murphy (P) and Coleman squeeze him wide of the mark. Ahead of this group were Cooper, Dumpleton and Colin.
Mulligan stayed “out of step” from the rest of the fleet and worked the inshore side of the second beat to Island. At times it looked very good, but it didn’t last long enough and with the ebbing tide taking him up to the mark, an easing of sheets marked the final approach to Island. With the fading breeze, the leg to Pier seemed even longer than the first time and the spread of the fleet was even more significant. Cooper and Dumpleton initially took as slightly offshore route which got progressively more offshore as the leg proceeded. At on stage they looked as though they were making a beeline for Clontarf. Between them and Mulligan on the inshore side of the run could be found – Colin, Coleman, Meagher, Murphy (P) with Court marginally further inshore. From this initial position there was a lot of changes with Colin and Coleman gybing to come inshore. Court went offshore and then came back, while Murphy (P) stayed out longer before he too came back inside. Meanwhile Cooper and Dumpleton were still ploughing an offshore furrow. All this in fading breeze.

Colin’s gybe brought him much closer to Mulligan and Coleman followed suit, with both sitting inshore of Mulligan. Slightly later Murphy was in the same position. Mulligan got one or two zephyrs that the others didn’t get and sailed away from them. By this stage we were in the final run in to Pier. Dumpleton had taken Cooper’s place at the head of the fleet and these two arrived at Pier before two Ruffians and two Shipmans that would impact on the rounding of Pier for Mulligan, Coleman, Colin, Murphy (P) and Court. The latter four boats found themselves inside a red-hulled Ruffian who seemed determine to give away the least amount of room possible. Mulligan sailed around the outside of both Ruffians, red-hulled and white-hulled, and a Shipman and holding onto spinnaker till the last possible moment squeezed through a gap that opened up behind the first Shipman. This was enough to get him away from Pier on port tack, in clear air. A subsequent tack to occupy the weather slot relative to Coleman on the starboard tack to the finish, allowed Mulligan to steal third place – an unlikely result give the way the race had gone earlier.

Dumpleton and Copper led the fleet home, in that order and behind Mulligan the finishers, in sequence, were Coleman, Murphy (P), Court and Colin.

Flying Fifteens DBSC, Thursday 7th July.
1. Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey 3995
2. Adrian Cooper & Joe McNamara 3896
3. Ben Mulligan & Cormac Bradley 4081
4. Niall & Susan Coleman 4008
5. Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey 3774

Flying Fifteens DBSC Overall.
1. Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (24)
2. Ben Mulligan & Cormac Bradley (45)
3. Keith Poole & Others (49.5)
4. David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne (59.5)
5. Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey (60)

In Hayling Island starting today (Friday), the UK Flying Fifteen fleet has their Nationals and there is Irish representation in the form of John Lavery & Alan Green (4083), David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne (4068) and I assume (but am not certain) Shane McCarthy (4085). The latter has just won the Irish GP14 Nationals as a run-up to the GP14 Worlds, scheduled for August in Skerries. We wish them all fair winds.

Nearshore site investigations are underway on Dublin Bay between the areas of Poolbeg and Dun Laoghaire as part of the Codling Wind Park Project.

According to the latest Dublin Port Notice to Mariners (downloadable below), works will be undertaken from the 13th of June 2022 for a period of approximately three weeks by the following craft;

• Jack Up Barge OCM 80
• Ocean Trojan Call Sign EI-EX6
• Ocean Clipper Call Sign EI-WW5

 Vessels should not approach within 500m of the Jack-Up Barge and pass at minimum speed to reduce wash. Download Notice to Mariners below

All craft will display the required lights, shapes and maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and VHF Channel 12 whilst within the Dublin Port Jurisdiction. Mariners are reminded of their responsibilities under the International Collision Regulations in relation to the activities of vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and engaged in underwater operations.

Vessels should not approach within 500m of the Jack-Up Barge and pass at minimum speed to reduce wash.

VTS will keep all vessels updated and advise of any relevant information on VHF Channel 12.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, took to the waters of Dublin Bay to take part in the annual ‘Casting of the Spear’ ceremony, the first time the tradition has been observed since before the pandemic.

The ‘Casting of the Spear’ is a tradition dating back 531 years for the incumbent Lord Mayor, who becomes Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port. The title of Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port has been bestowed on the Lord Mayor of Dublin for over 20 years.

Historical records show that the maritime tradition of the Casting the Spear dates back to 1488 when Thomas Mayler, who was then Lord Mayor of Dublin, rode out on horseback and cast a spear as far as he could into the sea – this was to mark the city’s boundaries eastwards. Centuries later, the re-enactment ceremony reminds us of Dublin’s role as a port city in medieval times and highlights Dublin Port’s remarkable history since its establishment as a trading post some 1,200 years ago.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland said: ''I am absolutely thrilled to have had the honour of Casting of the Spear and marking the eastern boundary of our City. I feel privileged being the Honorary Admiral of the Port for the duration of my term of office.

This ancient tradition of marking the City's maritime boundary with a spear has always fascinated me. It also highlights the strategic economic importance of Dublin Port to our City and indeed our country and how it has grown and developed over the centuries.''

Dublin Port CEO Eamonn O’Reilly commented at the ceremony: “I would like to thank Lord Mayor Gilliland for her participation in this year’s annual Casting of the Spear ceremony as we celebrate our heritage as a port city. It is heartening to be able to return to these time-honoured traditions after the disruption of the last few years. Looking back, now more than 530 years, it is extraordinary to think that our city’s boundaries were established by Thomas Mayler’s spear in the waters of medieval Dublin. Today’s re-enactment symbolises Dublin Port’s continued commitment to preserving an understanding of the history that binds the port and the city together.”

Tim Goodbody's J109 White Mischief from the RIYC took his third win in the eight boat Cruisers One IRC race of tonight's AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Thursday night series.

Overall, after seven races sailed and with five to count, Goodbody leads clubmate Andrew Craig in the sistership Chimaera by three points. 

Third overall is the A35 Gringo sailed by Tony Fox of the National Yacht Club.

A medium westerly breeze saw a strong DBSC fleet turnout for the second June cruiser races on the Bay.

See full DBSC individual and overall results in all classes below. 

Three live Dublin Bay webcams featuring some DBSC race course areas are here

Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet of the RIYC took another win in tonight's sixth race of the AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Thursday night series.

The win puts Parnell into a four-point lead overall in a 13-boat Cruisers Two IRC division.

Rain showers dark clouds and light northwesterly breeze did nothing to dampen a fine DBSC fleet turnout for the first June cruiser races on Dublin Bay.

See full DBSC individual and overall results in all classes below. 

Three live Dublin Bay webcams featuring some DBSC race course areas are here

John Hall's J/109 Something Else from the National Yacht Club was the winner of the Cruisers One IRC Race six in DBSC's AIB Summer Series on Saturday.

It was a busy day on Dublin Bay for Race Officer Barry McNeaney, who started the ISORA fleet on the cross-channel race to Holyhead at 8 am in light westerly wind and then started the DBSC cruiser fleets in light easterlies at 2 pm.

Hall beat Fintan Cairns' Mills 31 Raptor from the Royal Irish with Raptor's clubmates Tim and Richard Goodbody in the J/109 White Mischief third in the six boat fleet.

In the four boat Cruisers Zero division, Royal Irish yachts finished 1,2,3. Patrick Burke's First 40 Prima Forte beat Timothy Kane's Extreme 37 WOW in a one and a half hour race. Third was Paddy McSwiney's X-35 D-Tox.

There was Sigma 33 success for Royal St. George's Richard Lovegrove sailing Rupert who beat James McCann's Mustang 30 Peridot in a one hour race. Third was overall class leader Lindsay J. Casey's J122 Windjammer from the RStGYC.

Kevin Byrne's Formula 28 Starlet was the winner of IRC Three from Myles Kelly Senator Maranda. The overall series leader Edward Melvin in Ceol na Mara was third.

In the one design B211 class, the overall series leader Jimmy Fischer of Royal St. George Yacht Club took another win to give him four victories from five races sailed. Second was Pat Shannon's RIYC Beeswing from club mate Jacqueline McStay's Small Wonder.

After 11 races sailed, overall Ruffian 23 leader David Meeke in Alias placed second yesterday in a seven boat fleet. The race was won by DMYC's Michael Cutliffe in Ruffles. Third was Ann Kirwan in Bandit. 

See full DBSC individual and overall results in all classes below. Three live Dublin Bay webcams featuring some DBSC race course areas are here

Tony Fox's Archambault 35 Gringo from the National Yacht Club took a well-earned win in tonight's windy fifth race of the AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Thursday night series.

The win puts Fox into third overall in a 14-boat Cruisers One IRC division.

Second tonight was Tim and Richard Goodbody's RIYC J109 'White Mischief' which maintains her overall lead after five races on seven points. 

Tim Goodbdody’s 80th birthday was celebrated on the water when the Race Officer sang happy birthday over the VHF with other competitors joining in the impromptu sing-along.

Andrew Craig's RIYC J/109 Chimaera finished in third place tonight and is second overall on nine points. 

Flat seas with strong westerlies up to 20-knots made for some excellent racing. 

On the eve of Saturday's ISORA cross channel race in which Paul O'Higgins is competing, his JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI crew produced yet another race win to lead DBSC Zeros overall after five races with five straight wins. 

Patrick Burke's First 40.7, Prima Forte was originally recorded as second but, in fact, Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia (who is also on the ISORA line on Saturday) took second after a result input error was corrected. Prima Forte finished third and stays second overall on 11 points.

Third overall is Rodney and Keith Martin's 44.7 Lively Lady on 14 points.

In IRC 2, a win for Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet puts him on top overall and ahead of Lindsay Casey's J97 Windjammer from the Royal St. George Yacht Club that finished second in tonight's ten boat race. After finishing fourth in tonight's blustery conditions, Richard Lovegrove's Sigma 33 Rupert lies third overall. 

The DBSC Cruiser division Race Officer was Eddie Totterdell.

See full DBSC individual and overall results in all classes below. Three live Dublin Bay webcams featuring some DBSC race course areas are here

27th May 2022: This article was updated after a results input error was corrected

The National Yacht Club's Noel Butler sailing his RS Aero 'Orion' was on top again in the DBSC's AIB Summer dinghy series with two more wins in Tuesday night racing (May 24th) in his RS Aero dinghy to bring his strike rate to seven from eight races sailed.

Richard Tate's Finn took second last night with Aero helmsman Roy Van Maanen in third place in race eight. These top three positions are reflected in the overall leaderboard. 

Seven competed in the two races held in Scotsman's Bay under Race Officer Suzanne McGarry. Westerly winds ranged from 14 to under ten knots.

Laser

Like Butler, Gary O'Hare sailing Buster III maintains his overall lead in the Laser Standard division with two wins last night giving him seven wins from eight.

Only three Lasers competed in last night's racing with Conor O'Leary second and Theo Lyttle in third in race eight. All three are from the Royal St. George Yacht Club. 

Fireball

In a five boat turnout for the Fireball class, Neil Colin's Elevation from the DMYC also won both races last night. Overall, Colin leads after eight races with clubmate Frank Miller in second and Pink Fire skippered by Royal St. George's Louise McKenna third. 

Full results in all DBSC classes are below. Three live Dublin Bay webcams featuring some DBSC race course areas are here