As Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) drew the curtain on its 141st successful summer season last Saturday (September 27th), it was the club's Thursday evening series that proved the highlight of the capital's weekly cruiser-racer programme.
Under the leadership of Commodore Jacqueline McStay, there were nineteen Thursday evening starts scheduled in the AIB-sponsored 2025 Series between 24 April and 28 August, with most classes completing between 14 and 16 races after weather-related abandonments.
Over 40 IRC cruiser-racers competed across four divisions, ranging from high-performance IRC Zero to the more relaxed White Sail VPRS classes, producing one of the most regular competitive summer series in recent memory and one where Royal Irish Yacht Club boats dominated.
DBSC Thursday Cruisers Zero IRC winner - Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI of the Royal Irish Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
Cruisers Zero IRC set the early tone with close corrected-time racing among six heavyweights. The title went to Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI of the Royal Irish Yacht Club on 19 points, built on five race wins and an otherwise metronomic scoreline. Just two points back on 21 was Chris Power Smith’s J/122 Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club, while Sean Lemass steered his First 40.7 Prima Forte of the Royal Irish to third overall on 23, finishing the year with two late victories. Fourth went to John Treanor’s J122 ValenTina on 27, while Tim Kane’s Extreme 37 WOW rounded out the top five.
DBSC Thursday Cruisers One IRC winner - National Yacht Club’s Something Else, helmed by Brian Hall of the National Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
Cruisers One IRC saw the biggest numbers with fourteen entries, and the J/109s proved unstoppable. The championship went to the National Yacht Club’s Something Else, helmed by Brian Hall, on 23 points after counting six race wins across the series. Second on 32 was Colin Byrne’s XP33 Bon Exemple of the Royal Irish, ahead of another J/109, White Mischief, skippered by Byrne's clubmate Richard Goodbody on 33.5. It was a Royal Irish affair thereafter, with Barry Cunningham’s J109 Chimaera edging fourth on 46, with Fintan Cairns’ Mills 31 Raptor fifth on 72.
DBSC Thursday Cruisers Two IRC winner - Brendan Foley’s First 8 Allig8R of the Royal St. George Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
In Cruisers Two IRC, fifteen boats participated, but two entries broke away from the pack. Brendan Foley’s First 8 Allig8R of the Royal St. George Yacht Club (owned by a Dublin Bay syndicate of six friends, Paddy Ryan, Mark Hennessy, Peter Levins, Colm O'Buachalla, Conor Twomey and Foley), won on 19 taking eight race wins and rarely finishing outside the top three. Just two points behind on 21 was clubmate Lindsay Casey’s J97 Windjammer, which also posted five bullets. Third went to another George boat, the Sigma 33 Rupert, sailed by Richard and Philip Lovegrove, on 52 points, holding off sistership Moonshine and Paul Keelan's HB31, Hazy Blues, after a tight midfield battle.
DBSC Thursday Cruisers Three ECHO winner - Pamafe, helmed by Gerry Costello of the Royal St. George
Cruisers Three Echo produced one of the most open competitions, with ten entries and 15 scored races. The title went to Pamafe, helmed by Gerry Costello of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, on 30 points after a consistent run of podiums. Second on 37 was Wynward, sailed by Wyn McCormack of the Royal Irish, while third on 42 went to Eleint under skipper Michal Matulka. Just one point separated Papytoo and Black Sheep in fourth and fifth.
DBSC Thursday Cruisers 4/5A NS VPRS winner - Playtime, campaigned by Phillips, Kidney and Curtis of the National Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
Cruisers 4/5A NS VPRS was dominated by Playtime, campaigned by Phillips, Kidney and Curtis of the National Yacht Club. Their steady run of wins and podiums delivered the title on 22 points from 16 scored races. Second on 33 was Boomerang, skippered by Paul Kirwan, while Vivid, sailed by David Greer, finished third on 35. Shearwater and Persistance completed the overall top five.
The DBSC prizegiving will be held in November.
