On Friday evening (November 7th), the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire, in the impressively repurposed Mariners’ Church, hosted the annual prizegiving of the internationally significant sailing club, Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), with a giant roll of silverware presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay for the 2025 AIB summer racing season.
In a packed week for Dun Laoghaire sailing, the World Sailing Conference was wrapping up in the town, which included a star-studded World Sailor of the Year awards ceremony on Wednesday night, when the country's biggest yacht racing club laid out its historic silverware for the 141st time.
DBSC’s Premier Awards set the tone. The Dr Alf Delany Cup for the most successful dinghy of the season went to John Sheehy (Melges Ireland).
John Sheehy (Melges Ireland) receives the Dr Alf Delany Cup for the season’s most successful dinghy presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The Waterhouse Shield for the top handicapped yacht was awarded to Valentina (John Treanor), while one-design excellence was recognised with the George Arthur Newsom Cup for Glenluce (Ailbe Millerick).
John Treanor’s Valentina (received by Adam Winkelmann) lifts the Waterhouse Shield for the most successful yacht in a handicapped series presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Ailbe Millerick’s Glenluce takes the George Arthur Newsom Cup for the most successful one-design yacht presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The Brendan Ebril Memorial Cup saluted Wynward (Wyn McCormack) for best reflecting the club spirit, and The Viking Award honoured Pat Shannon for a notable contribution to DBSC.
Wyn McCormack’s Wynward is awarded the Brendan Ebril Memorial Cup for the skipper who best reflects the spirit of DBSC presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Pat Shannon is honoured with The Viking Award for a notable contribution to DBSC presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
A special presentation, The Paddy McSwiney Memorial Cup, was made to Papytoo (Frank Guilfoyle).
Frank Guilfoyle’s Papytoo receives The Paddy McSwiney Memorial Cup special presentation presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Among the traditional yachts, the Dublin Bay 21s shared their season between three boats: Naneen (Deane McElree) won Tuesday’s Daisy Picker Cup; Geraldine (Sean Doyle) took Saturday's overall for the Carson Challenge Cup; and Estelle (Jerome Coffey) lifted The Inisfallon Cup for most success with 80% participation.
Sean Doyle’s Geraldine wins Dublin Bay 21s Saturdays Overall for the Carson Challenge Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In the Water Wags dinghies, it was Puffin (Sean Craig) first for the Goldsmith Cup, Moosmie (John O’Driscoll) second for the Bluebird Trophy, and Swift (Guy & Jackie Kilroy) third for the G. Pugin Meldon Trophy.
Sean and Heather Craig’s Puffin wins the Water Wags Goldsmith Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The big-boat fleets were fiercely contested. In Cruiser 0, Rockabill VI (Paul O’Higgins) headed Thursday IRC overall for the Martin Cup after winning Series A, with Valentina (John Treanor) taking Thursday Series B and then a Saturday sweep: Saturday's IRC overall Knox-Gore Trophy plus Saturday's ECHO overall Centenary Trophy, backed by series wins. Aurelia (Chris Power Smith) dominated ECHO midweek, securing the Knox-Gore Bowl for Thursday ECHO overall.
Paul O’Higgins’ Rockabill VI (received by John Kelly) wins Cruiser 0 Thursday IRC overall for the Martin Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Cruiser 1 belonged midweek to Something Else (Brian Hall) in Thursday IRC (Series A & B and the West Pier Officers’ Cup overall), while Jump the Gun (John Kelly & Michael Monaghan) cleaned up Thursday ECHO (A, B and Tiamat Trophy overall). At weekends, White Mischief (Richard Goodbody) took Saturdays IRC overall (Weir Cup), and Riders on the Storm (Bobby Kerr) landed Saturdays ECHO overall (Osterburg Trophy) after a late charge. The J/109 combined Goodbody Cup also went to Something Else.
Brian Hall’s Something Else wins Cruiser 1 Thursday IRC overall for the West Pier Officers’ Cup and the J/109 Goodbody Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In Cruiser 2, Thursday ECHO was shared between Hazy Blues (Paul Keelan) and Scenario Encore (Damien Corcoran), with Scenario Encore lifting the Centenary Cup overall. Thursday IRC split between Allig8R (Brendan Foley) and Windjammer (Lindsay Casey), with Allig8R taking the Lady Shamrock Trophy. Saturdays saw Peridot (Jim McCann) and Windjammer share ECHO, with Peridot winning the TP Early Memorial Cup overall; Windjammer then stamped Saturdays IRC—Series A, Series B and the Silver Salver—and completed the double with the Thursdays/Saturdays overall Brendan Briscoe Trophy.
Lindsay Casey’s Windjammer sweeps Cruiser 2 Saturdays IRC including the Silver Salver and wins the Brendan Briscoe Trophy overall presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The Cruiser 2 Sigma 33 division was a Rupert (Philip & Richard Lovegrove) procession: Thursdays overall JB Stephens Trophy, Saturdays overall Rupert Bowl, with series wins across both days.
Philip & Richard Lovegrove’s Rupert take Cruiser 2 Sigma Thursdays overall for the JB Stephens Trophy and Saturdays overall for the Rupert Bowl presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In Cruiser 3, Tuesday's ECHO went to Black Sheep (Sarah Barry) for the Whimbrel Rose Bowl; Thursday's ECHO was shared by Wynward and Black Sheep, with Pamafe (Gerry Costello) winning the Annette Cup. Thursday IRC overall (Smalldridge Cup) and Saturday IRC overall (Mercia Cup) both went to Black Sheep, while Pamafe lifted Saturday's ECHO overall (Jack Kennedy Memorial Cup).
Gerry Costello’s Pamafe wins Cruiser 3 Saturdays ECHO overall for the Jack Kennedy Memorial Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
White-sail produced big turnouts. Cruiser 4–5 Thursday VPRS non-spinnaker saw Playtime (Phillips/Kidney/Curtis) win Div A overall (Burford Trophy) and Cevantes (Paul Conway) take Div B overall (Howth Trophy).
Colin O’Brien’s Spirit wins Cruiser 5 Saturday Div A ECHO overall for the Trevor Wood Trophy presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In Cruiser 5 ECHO, Playtime topped Thursday Div A overall (Peigi Bán half model), while Cevantes won Thursday Div B overall (Galilleo Cup) and also the Saturday Div B overall White Sail Class Trophy; Saturday Div A overall ECHO (Trevor Wood Trophy) went to Spirit (Colin O’Brien). The Saturday VPRS non-spinnaker super league was also won by Playtime.
Playtime (Phillips/Kidney/Curtis) win Cruisers 4–5 VPRS Non-Spinnaker Thursday Div A overall for the Burford Trophy and Saturday Div A overall for the Heineken Superleague Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The sportsboat and one-design ranks were lively. In Beneteau 211s, Beeswing (Pat Shannon) won Tuesday overall (Optec Trophy) and Thursday ECHO overall (Beneteau 21 Tray), while Yikes (Peter Carroll & John Smith) took both Scratch crowns—Thursday (Facet Jewellers Cup) and Saturday (Beneteau 21 Cup)—plus the combined Waterhouse Rose Bowl.
Yikes (Peter Carroll & John Smith) take both B211 Scratch crowns and the Waterhouse Rose Bowl presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The Beneteau 31.7s were a Prospect (Chris Johnston) clinic: Thursday Scratch (Feanor Trophy) and Saturday Scratch overall (Arandora Trophy), with Bluefin Two (Michael & Bernie Bryson) taking Thursday Echo (Horrigan Cup) and Levante (John Power) Saturday ECHO (Long John Silver Cup).
Chris Johnston’s Prospect dominates Beneteau 31.7 Scratch (Feanor Trophy and Arandora Trophy) with Bluefin Two (Michael & Bernie Bryson) and Levante (John Power) taking the Echo titles presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The Dragons split honours: Thursdays overall Oxford & Cambridge Cup to Phantom (Peter Bowring & David Williams), Saturdays overall Royal Irish Yacht Club Cup to Serafina (Ronan Murphy), and the combined Prince Alfred Cup also to Serafina. In the Glens, it was near-total Glenluce dominance (Ailbe Millerick): Thursday overall (Pterodactyl Cup), Saturday overall (Harry Maguire Memorial Cup), and combined (McMullen Cup), with Glenroan (Keith Malcom) taking Tuesday’s Mitchell Trophy; Kay Docherty won the Ladies Race and Ku Duong the Crews Race.
Ronan Murphy’s Serafina wins Dragons Saturdays overall for the Royal Irish Yacht Club Cup and the combined Prince Alfred Cup, with Phantom (Peter Bowring & David Williams) taking Thursdays overall presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Ruffian 23s were all Bandit (Ann Kirwan) — Thursdays series A & B, Thursdays overall (Huet Trophy), Saturdays series A & B, Saturday racing (British Airways Trophy), and the combined J. Lamont Trophy — with Sceal Eile (Enda Brennan) lifting the Tuesday John Donnelly Perpetual Cup.
Ann Kirwan’s Bandit sweeps the Ruffians taking Thursdays overall (Huet Trophy), Saturday racing (British Airways Trophy) and Combined (J. Lamont Trophy) presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In Shipmans, Viking (Fergus Mason) took Thursdays overall (Midweek Trophy), Saturdays overall (Melindi Cup), and the combined Shipman Perpetual Trophy; Invader (Gerard Glynn) and Joslim (William Maher) shared the series.
Fergus Mason’s Viking takes Shipmans Thursdays overall (Midweek Trophy), Saturdays overall (Melindi Cup) and the combined Shipman Perpetual Trophy presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The SB20s crackled. Sneaky B (Charlotte O’Kelly) won Tuesday’s Equinox Trophy; Thursdays were split between Ted (Michael O’Connor) and Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), with Venuesworld.com lifting the Crichton Cup. Saturdays went to Seabiscuit (Barry Galvin) for the Bealtaine Trophy and Carpe Diem (Colin Galavan & Richard Hayes) for The Lúnasa Trophy; Saturday overall (Sunday Cup / SB20 Cup) was Ted.
Michael O’Connor’s Ted wins SB20 Saturday overall for the Sunday Cup / SB20 Cup with Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey) lifting Thursday’s Crichton Cup and Sneaky B (Charlotte O’Kelly above) winning the Equinox Trophy on Tuesday presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Mixed-sportsboat action saw Ram Jam (Austin Kenny) and Big Bad Wolf (David Ryan) share Thursday series, with Big Bad Wolf taking the Thursday Sportsboat Trophy; StarJay (Kevin Byrne) swept Saturdays and the Saturday Sportsboat Cup. The J/80 Thursday overall (Cpt Viscount Crichton Cup) also went to Ram Jam.
Kevin Byrne’s StarJay wins Mixed Sportsboats Saturday overall for the Saturday Sportsboat Cup, with Big Bad Wolf (David Ryan above) taking Thursday overall for the Thursday Sportsboat Trophy presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In the one design keelboat and centerboard fleets, Flying Fifteens handed the Thursday overall Flying Fifteen Gun to Fuzzy (Neil Colin) after series wins split with Ignis Caput Duo (David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne), while FOMO (David Gorman) took Saturday Racing (Brian S. Ryan Trophy) and Series A; the Blake Cup for first Silver Fleet went to Hera (Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey). Mermaids did not present their main trophies in 2025 due to special conditions.
Neil Colin’s Fuzzy (above) wins the Flying Fifteen Gun for Thursday overall as David Gorman’s FOMO takes the Brian S. Ryan Trophy for Saturday racing and Hera (Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey) top the Silver Fleet for the Blake Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
Fireballs crowned Ballderdash (Frank Miller) with Nuit St George Trophy on Tuesdays and License to Thrill (Jack McNaughton) with the Fireball Saturday Cup. IDRAs saw Dart (Pierre Long) win Tuesday overall (Bay Cup) and Saturdays overall (Kennedy Cup), with special-condition silver split between Diane (Brian Murphy & Catherine Martin), Dart (Remi Long) and Dunmoanin (John Fitzgerald & Jennie Byrne).
Frank Miller’s Ballderdash (above) wins the Fireball Tuesday Nuit St. George Trophy while Jack McNaughton’s License to Thrill takes the Fireball Saturday Cup presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
The handicap PY Class hailed Orion RS Aero 6 (Noel Butler) as Tuesday overall Windmill Cup winner after sharing the series with Finn McCool (Richard Tate); Butler also won Saturdays Series A, while 4136 (Gordon Syme) lifted Saturdays Series B and the Early Bird Trophy for Saturday racing.
Noel Butler’s Orion RS Aero 6 wins the PY Class Windmill Cup on Tuesdays while 4136 (Gordon Syme) takes the Early Bird Trophy for Saturday racing presented by Commodore Jacqueline McStay at the 2025 Dublin Bay Sailing Club AIB Prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Michael Chester
In the single-handers, ILCA 7 (Standard) Tuesday overall Lanavere Cup went to Ross O’Leary (“Ug!”), with series wins for Matteo Valentini and Sam Wilkinson; Valentini then took the Saturday overall DBSC Challenge Trophy.
In ILCA 6 (Radial), Tuesday overall Sailcraft Tray went to Hugh Cahill (“Emily Kate 11”), with Shirley Gilmore winning Tuesdays C and the Laser Saturday Trophy overall; Brendan Hughes took Saturdays A.
Finally, the Melges 15s, the newest DBSC dinghy class, were the domain of John Sheehy (Melges Ireland): Tuesday Series A and overall, plus Saturday Series A and overall; Ice Ice Baby (Morgan Lyttle) claimed Tuesday B and Saturday B, with Oscar Glavin winning Tuesday C.
Dublin Bay Sailing Club 2025 Prizegiving Photo Gallery by Michael Chester
As the applause echoed in the Mariners’ Church, the breadth of winners told a familiar DBSC story: classics and sportsboats, offshore thoroughbreds and single-handers — all carried along by committed volunteers and determined sailors. That mix is exactly what keeps Dublin Bay racing at full chat, season after season.
Racing continues throughout the winter in the club's ever-popular seven-race Turkey Shoot Series this Sunday.
