Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), the country's largest yacht racing organisation, is well advanced with plans for its Summer season in just over two months time.
There are some major changes to the Sherry Fitzgerald–sponsored programme this year with the loss of the DBSC Cruiser Challenge but the arrival of three new 'enhanced' coastal races as part of the fixtures line–up in the capital's waters.
There are changes for DBSC dinghies too who will now race in harbour on Saturdays instead of Sundays.
The first DBSC summer races start in April: the first Tuesday is 25th April, the first Thursday is 27th April and the first Saturday is 29th April.
One of the first victims of an 'overcrowded' sailing calendar is DBSC's annual Cruiser Challenge this season. DBSC Commodore Chris Moore feels the cruiser event has 'run its course' due largely to the fact that 'there are now less big boats racing and many more competing events such as the ICRAs, ISORAs and Sovereigns Cup.'
DBSC End of Season Race Day
DBSC will mark the end of the season with it's last race of 2017 that could yet have a twist on the overall results.
The club is keen to see 2017 off in style this year with a special 'DBSC End of Season Race Day' on the 30th September. Keelboats will have two races and therefore double points which, says Moore, 'could be a game changer for some boats in the running for overall prizes'.
On the dinghy front, there will be no dnghy sailing on Sundays, instead dnghy racing will now be on Tuesdays (as last year) and on Saturday afternoons in the harbour on 12 designated days.
Finally, there will be three coastal races with new and enhanced courses, 27th May, 17th June, and 5th August. these will be entitled 'DBSC Royal Alfred Coastal Series' with some special extra prizes.
