90 trophies as well as 509 pieces of glassware were awarded at last Friday's Dublin Bay Sailing Club prizegiving, the 118th prize giving of the club. Top of the trophy cabinet are DBSC's premier awards, presented to boats that in the judgement of the committee have been sailed over the Dublin Bay season with particular distinction. Here, in his citation from last week's prizegiving, DBSC Honorary Secretary Donal O'Sullivan salutes the 2011 winners.
Firstly, there is the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Trophy, awarded by the Harbour Company, for the best new boat in DBSC racing. This year's winner is Cri-Cri, sailed by Paul Colton, the best new boat on the DBSC racing scene.
Next is the George Arthur Newsom Cup, first awarded in 1934, to commemorate the Club's Hon.Treasurer, who had died the previous year. He was one of early Dublin Bay pioneers, active in many roles, president of the Wag Club, member of the Royal Irish, co-owner of the famous Dublin Bay 25 footer, Punctillio. This year's winner is Prospect, sailed by Chris Johnston, who dominated 31.7 racing as he and the Johnson family did earlier in the Dublin Bay 24 footer, Harmony. Chris Johnston, then, in Prospect.
We come now to the Waterhouse Shield. Waterhouse was a jewellery firm in Dame St, who used to do the engraving for Dublin Bay before Weir's. The family were active in DBSC and in 1886 presented us with the first shield. It was won outright, after three consecutive wins, by Wm. Randall Cecil Richardson, whose descendants re-presented to the Club in 1951..
This year's winner is Xtravagance, which won almost everything before it in Cruisers 1. It was sailed by Colin Byrne, no stranger to the DBSC prize list. In fact, the Byrne family have been winners of the Waterhouse Shield on at least three other occasions. Growltiger, sailed by his father, Philip, won it in 1994, 1998 and 2000. Philip, I understand, still crews on the Byarne boat. Xtravagance, then, the winner of the Waterhouse Shield.
Next, the Dr. Alf Delaney Memorial Cup, which commemorates a pioneer Dublin Bay dinghy sailor who joined the Club in 1932 and who raced in club races until - I think - about ten years ago. He was also on the Irish Olympic team in 1948. This year's winner - for the most successful boat racing on the DBSC dinghy course- was Laser 153827, sailed by Paul Keane in the PY class, now dominated by its very thriving Laser section. Paul Keane in Laser 153827.
The Brendan Ebrill Memorial Cup commemorates our late Hon Secretary who for many years organised this function. This year it is awarded to Bluefin Two, a 31.7 sailed by Michael and Bernie Bryson., who, I think, won it before when they sailed the original Bluefin.
The last of the premier prizes is the Viking Award, by which DBSC marks its recognition and gratitude to someone who has made a notable contribution to sailing. Those of you who sail in the Blue fleet will be familiar with the clear, bell-like tones of the lady who does out the countdown on the radio. 90 seconds from the start she will call out "one and a hawf" and the rest of the MacLir dutifully repeat it "One and a hawf". The voice, of course, belongs to Ida Kiernan, one-time Commodore of the NY, a former Mermaid sailor who this year in the absence of the usual team leader, organised the manning of MacLir. She has been involved in the organising of many other sailor events as well. So, to Ida Kiernan, of the MacLir team, the Viking Award.
