It's more like the tide gently making, rather than the razzmatazz and splash of some fanfare-laden flag-bedecked traditional Opening Day. Sailing in south Dublin Bay, with its focus almost entirely through the majestic artificial harbour of Dun Laoghaire, gradually manifests into each new season on so many fronts and in such different sailing forms that – in an age when year-round sailing by some super-fans is part of the scene - you're probably best saying that the last Saturday in April is when the main show is finally fully on the road.
Those who remember classic Opening Days from the olden times may feel regretful nostalgia. But the reality is that so much sailing and racing emanates from Dun Laoghaire under the broad umbrella of Dublin Bay Sailing Club that it's now better to let it get underway with as little fuss as possible, to make sure all systems are functioning smoothly.
Dublin Bay looking north. There are few cities in the world where you can find Dublin Bay Sailing Club's offering of good racing within an hour or so of leaving work
STARTER'S HUT IS A STATEMENT
That said, if you do seek something tangible, there are those who suggest that for them, the real Opening Day for DBSC comes when it is announced that the power-focus of the Starters Hut – the only landside "premises" in the entire DBSC portfolio, though it does have state-of-the-art committee boats - has been installed in its seasonal location out towards the end of the West Pier, and is ready for business with racing marks laid out in the bay.
The design of the DBSC Starters Hut in its seasonal location at the end of the West Pier
Like so much else in DBSC's functioning, it relies on significant and sometimes almost total voluntary amateur work, effort and decision-making. For if there is a secret to DBSC's success in co-ordinating the sailing and racing of the four main clubs and many class organisations in addition to some smaller specialist groups, it is to be found in the ethos of voluntary work and effort.
AIB SPONSORSHIP
While the overall programme of DBSC is sponsored in a well-established co-operation with AIB, the detail administration is on such a scale that it is probably best not to scrutinise just what it is that motivates those involved – who knows, but it might damage the element of something approaching magic to make a thing about it.
And we don't of course pretend for a minute that such sports voluntarism is unique to sailing. But the highly concentrated setup of the Dun Laoghaire's sailing scene means that any analysis by an outsider will almost immediately identify this benevolent and enormous force of voluntarism.
The many people involved have not necessarily followed a path from cradle sailing. Current DBSC Commodore Jacqueline McStay has her own unique story. Her family got involved in sailing as the kids were recruited into the Junior Training Programme at the Royal Irish YC. In time, the adults followed the children into RIYC membership, and Jacqueline soon found herself on the House Committee and, in due course, Rear Commodore (House) on the RIYC flag officer board.
THE CHARMS OF THE BENETEAU 211
The last item on her agenda seems to have been personal sailing, but she was hooked in the fullness of time, and in 2018 became a boat-owner and racing contender with the Beneteau 211 Small Wonder, which we'd agree to being one of the mighty international Beneteau company's most interesting boats.
They certainly make up a useful grouping in the DBSC lineup. And despite the hiatus of the Covid pandemic, Jacqueline McStay's participation in regular DBSC racing was soon reaching beyond a feeling of gratitude for the level of sailing sport being provided so conveniently within the Dublin city area.
She was curious about how it was being done, and done so well too. That is just one step away from joining the volunteer group in some capacity. But with her proven history in clubhouse administration with the uniquely historic RIYC building, she was soon fast-tracked into the DBSC officer corps, becoming Rear Commodore in 2021, Vice Commodore in 2023, and now succeeding Eddie Totterdell from the National Yacht Club as DBSC Commodore for a two year period.
DBSC Commodore Jacqueline McStay (centre) with members of her 2025 Officer & Committee Board, back row (left to right) Hon.Secretary Rosemary Roy, Sabrina Mahony, Declan Traynor, Ian Bowring, Sarah Dwyer, Declan Curtin & Birian Mulkeen, front ror (l to r) Keith Poole (Honorary Treasurer), Brian Matthews (Vice Commodore Jacqueline McStay, Jonathan Skerritt (Rear Commodore, and Kevin Byrne. Photo: Michael Chester
Her Vice Commodore is the formidably talented Brian Mathews, for many years the club's Technical Adviser, while Jonathan Skerritt is Rear Commodore, with Rosemary Roy continuing as Honorary Secretary while Keith Poole is Honorary Treasurer.
It says everything about DBSC's seaward orientation that the qualified race officers make up the numerically largest group in the upper echelons of the club's administration, with Principal Race Officer Eddie Totterdell heading a group of 15 who have shown themselves able to withstand the pressures of running a sailing race in Dublin Bay.
It's not always gentle summer sailing – after a tense day at the office, DBSC can help you blow the cobwebs away
ROYAL ALFRED YC LIVES!
A few years ago, the historic Corinthian sailing Royal Alfred YC (founded 1870) was brought under the umbrella of DBSC, but its eccentric spirit lives on. And at the ever-fewer social events in sailing in which a tie is stipulated, the distinctive orange-red tie of the RAYC has been making its presence felt.
So too is its enthusiasm for coastal races. Not offshore races, we'd hasten to say, as that would require some boat and equipment upgrades, but coastal races in which the changing scenery is part of the charm. Thus the DBSC committee is looking at ways of staging two or three coastal races for cruiser-racers later in the season, starting at 13:00 hrs and finished around 17:00 hrs.
The only limitation on courses is that they'll have to head south from the Dun Laoghaire side of Dublin Bay, as the shipping route eastward out of Dublin Port can now see as many as 45 ship movements per day. But the reality is that DBSC has very skillfully created courses which make the very best use of their closely-defined regular racing area in the south Bay, and any coastal races will have as much scope as anyone could wish.
In all, DBSC lists 25 different classes in its lineup for the 2025 season, which makes for a lot of boats and thousands of amateur sailors reliant on the voluntary officers and their very many voluntary assistants to ensure quality sport. Year after year, it just seems to happen, and many of those who put in the long hours of unpaid work are probably best rewarded by the knowledge that the sailing they provide is good, and people are coming back for more.
Dream day. Every so often, Dublin Bay serves up sailing like this.
