#sb20 – Nine SB20 sportsboats made it to the start line in beautiful sunshine and a gentle F2 south easterly for the penultimate race of the first Thursday series. With only a few points separating the top 3 boats and a second discard to be applied, it was still all to play for in the scrap for the prizes.

The fleet set off on a lengthy beat to Bullock into a strengthening flooding tide. The usual Dublin Bay conundrum of less tide inshore or more wind offshore faced the competitors with those boats avoiding the flat spots closer to shore faring best up the first beat. At the first mark, Manamana (Doug, Ronan et al) had weekend out a nice lead and a tidy hoist allowed them to extend away from the chasing pack. In second and third, Alert Packaging (Justin, Darren et al) and Venuesworld (Ger et al) were having an epic tussle with only feet separating them around the mark. A gap formed then to SacreBleu (Richard et al), Bad (Enda and Gerry), Probably (Billy, Ian and Mark), Should Be... (Michael, Owen and Gavan), Rubadubdub (Nick et al) and Smoke On The Water (Bob et al). Unfortunately for Smoke on the Water, a broken spinny sheet put paid to their race prematurely...

There were no significant changes down the first two reaches but the second beat turned the race on its head with massive gains and losses to be had. Venuesworld lost touch with the top two as Alert Packaging and Manamana pulled away from the fleet and match raced each other up the beat with the lead changing several times... (From a great, great distance it looked like a great battle!) Elsewhere, it seemed like there were place changes every couple of minutes with first of all Probably and then Should Be... nipping at the heels of SacreBleu and Venuesworld, and Bad falling back. Third around the second weather was Venuesworld followed closely by SacreBleu, Should Be... and Probably in hot pursuit.

With a run followed by another beat and two reaches (a good but very long course tonight!), you would expect that the fleet would have spread out a lot, turning the race into a procession however (other than the top 2 who were just crazy far ahead!), it is a testament to the evenness of the boats and the dogged nature of the competitors in the fleet that three boats (Bad, SacreBleu and Probably) went around the last gybe mark overlapped. Bad skillfully came out of that tussle with the bragging rights!

In the end, Alert Packaging snuck ahead of Manamana who gave them a terrific battle to the end and they were followed over the line by Venuesworld, Should Be..., Probably, Bad and SacreBleu in that order. Only one point separates the top two with third a further three points back so the stage is set for a great finale to series one next Thursday.

Just a reminder that the second Sunday series is about to begin with SB Sunday no. 4 on this coming Sunday, 12.30 first gun. This Sunday we are delighted to have Con Murphy filling in for Barry as OOD (big shoes to fill Con!) so looking forward to some great SB racing in the sunshine.

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Prima Nocte (Patrick Burke et al)

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Prima Nocte (Patrick Burke et al), 3. Attitude (T Milner J Sugars M Branigan)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Dear Prudence (B Lyons & J Given)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Bon Exemple (C Byrne)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Ruth (L Shanahan)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Hamilton Bear (S Hyde), 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Huggy Bear (Doyle & Byrne)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Hamilton Bear (S Hyde), 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Quest (B Cunningham/J Skerritt)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Capilano (Seamus Soran)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

DRAGON - 1. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 2. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Perfect Ten (A Balfe), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)

GLEN - 1. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenroan (T O'Sullivan)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 2. Carmen (B Duffy), 3. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada)

SB20 - 1. Alert Packaging (J Burke D Burke), 2. Manamana (Smith\Downing\O'Reilly), 3. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey)

SHIPMAN - 1. Poppy (Peter Wallis et al), 2. Curraglas (John Masterson)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Springer (I Bowring)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith)

#ff – Visiting former world champion Charles Apthorp showed the Dublin Bay fleet a clean pair of heels winning the two DBSC races in Frequent Flyer with Alan Green as crew.

There were about ten boats training with Apthorp in light winds on a short course inside the harbour prior to the DBSC racing. Following the training everyone was keen to get going in the races and practice their new or improved skills. The wind had begun to build up from the se/south as forecast a the tide was flooding. Seventeen boats started the first race, in close racing the Meaghers who were sailing fantastically fast lead at the first mark followed by Apthorp/Green, Mulvin, Colman and Gorman. Apthorp gybed to the left of the course and took the lead but the Meaghers were tucked in behind them.

On the next beat the wind shifted to the south, Gorman got up to second and Colman third, it became a soldiers race for the remaining two laps but as Gorman got stuck in traffic with other boats Colman was quick to pounce and take second place with Gorman third, the Meaghers fourth and Dumpleton/McNeilly fifth

The second race started after the PRO changed the course, by now the wind was force 4/5 and we were given 4 laps- it was going to be a long afternoon! The fleet split going up the beat and Athorpe came to the weather mark first from the right side with Gorman second from the left side. Downwind the fleet bunched up but on the beats it was generally favoured to go right towards the shore and the shallower waters for less tide. Not a lot changed in the race, crews were busy hanging in there in the by now windy conditions. Athorpe won the race comfortably with Gorman second, Dumpleton third and Colman fourth. Club Rear Commodore and fireball sailor Frank Cassidy was helming in 3773 with Joe Hickey crewing and finished sixth.

Once again it was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout. Special thanks to Charles Apthorp for coming over and coaching and racing with us. A lot was learnt and hopefully it can be put in practice when the fleet travel to Cushendall for the Northern Championships this weekend. Once ashore and packed the fleet had a very enjoyable bbq in the NYC organised by our class captain Nikki and her committee.

#dbsc – CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Capilano (S Soran), 2. Maranda (M Kelly), 3. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn)

Ensign - 1. INSC2 (A Rumball)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. No Name (B McGuire), 3. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 3. Glenshane (P Hogan)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Slipstream (Julie Ascoop), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

PY CLASS - 1. R Kenneally (Laser), 2. Colin Galavan (Laser), 3. Tom Murphy (K1)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Different Drummer (D Tonge), 2. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Blue Moon (C Collins & B McCormack)

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 2. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly), 3. Powder Monkey (C Moore)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Kamikaze (P.Nash/B.McIntyre)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Utopia (J Healy)

DRAGON - 1. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 2. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. No Name (B McGuire)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Flyer (Niall Coleman), 3. Betty (D & S Gorman)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Betty (D & S Gorman), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Slipstream (Julie Ascoop), 3. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

MERMAID Race 1- 1. Tijuana (David Stedmond), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Tijuana (David Stedmond), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. B O'Hare (RS400)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 2. B O'Hare (RS400)

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray), 3. Viking (Brian Glynn et al)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 2. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Springer (I Bowring)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Tears in Heaven (M Halpenny & G Ferguson), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Femme Fatale (V Delaney), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Calypso (Howard Knott), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

#sb20 – Five SB20s lined up for the weekly Thursday sail around the cans with southerly breeze of 13 knts gusting 16 and a rolling sea, Some of the usual contenders were presumably opting to use the evening to get ready for the trip up north this weekend. A 20 degree shift at the start made for a bias at the boat end where we duly lined up in a tight bunch which resulted in some excitement and the flying of a protest flag. Venuesworld and Sacrebleu got off the line first followed by Should be and Manamana. A decent length beat to the top mark resulted in four boats rounding within a few boat lengths of each other. The angle was just marginally too tight for some of the gusts so the fleet played it safe until Venuesworld decided to put up their kite. Enthused by their bravery Should be went for it and aimed to leeward of the fleet while SacreBleu and Venuesworld got involved in a luffing battle to windward with Manamana waiting to see what happened the kite hoisters. Should be saw the battle between SacreBleu and Venuesworld and caught a few strong gusts to lead the pack to the next mark where they lead to the finish.

The next leg was too tight to fly the kites but Manamana put in a brave effort to keep theirs up after the gybe but couldn't get the required height, still they worried the fleet for a while with their pace, the remainder of the fleet two sailed it back inshore with lovely rollers underneath, Venuesworld showed their skills in 2 sail reaching from the Enterprise days and rapidly closed the gap between themselves and Should be using the waves to great effect. Should be tacked inshore and took advantage of a right shift to increase their lead to the next mark.

A great tussle between SacreBleu and Manamana ended with SacreBleu getting to the right side of a flock of Glens to end in a photo finish which resulted in SacreBleu getting a well deserved 3rd.

Overall a great evenings yachting with everyone putting the kites up for a sleigh ride home, with Venuesworld sailing enthusiastically past the harbour never wanting it to end!

Many thanks to Barry O'Neill and the crew of Freebird for a great evening racing.

Best of luck to all those travelling north!

Final results
1. Should be
2. Venuesworld.com
3. Sacrebleu
4. Manamana
5. Smoke on the Water

#flyingfifteen – On a beautiful sunny summers evening with a s/se force 4-5 breeze it was perfect sailing conditions for the 17–Flying Fifteens. PRO Jack Roy and his team set a great course and there was some exciting sailing especially downwind.

With the tide ebbing those who went towards the shore had less wind than those who elected to stay out. Doorly/Quinn were first at the weather marked followed by Murphy/Ratto, Mulvin/Beirne and Dumpleton/Mulligan. Dumpleton sailed a great reach to take the lead and at the next mark he was followed by Mulvin and Doorly. These three stayed ahead. On the last reach Dumpleton sailed too low allowing Mulvin to get the lead. Dumpleton clawed back on the last beat to the finish but Mulvin held on by a whisker to record his first win in his new boat IRL 4028. Dumpleton was second followed closely by Doorly in third, Leonard fourth and guest helm Jon O'Rourke in fifth.

Once again it was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout and once ashore and packed the fleet had a very enjoyable bbq in the NYC.

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Avalon (R.Conan/J.Fox)

CRUISERS 0 Echo- 1. Loose Change (P Redden & M Mitton), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Loose Change (P Redden & M Mitton), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Just Jay (Oliver Sheehy), 3. Jigamaree (R Harris)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Just Jay (Oliver Sheehy), 3. Jigamaree (R Harris)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Black Sheep (E Healy), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Black Sheep (E Healy), 2. Graduate (D O'Keeffe), 3. Antix (D Ryan)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Quest (B Cunningham/J Skerritt), 2. Solidarity (Whelan/McCabe/Cary/Cramer), 3. Hamilton Bear (S Hyde)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Solidarity (Whelan/McCabe/Cary/Cramer), 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle)

CRUISERS 3 B - 1. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain), 2. Maranda (Myles Kelly)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Small Wonder (H Kelly), 2. Wynward (W McCormack), 3. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Zu (M Minch/C Grimley/T Pearson), 3. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. TBA (David Mulvey), 2. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 3. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green)

GLEN - 1. Glencoe (Rose Mary Craig et al), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenmiller (P Cusack)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme)

SB20 - 1. Should be... (Michael O'Connor), 2. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey), 3. Sacrebleu (B Fusco/R Hayes)

SHIPMAN - 1. Invader (Gerard Glynn), 2. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 3. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB - 1. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 2. Chillax (Colin Galavan), 3. Buzz Lite (G.O'Connor)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Sweet Martini (Bruce Carswell), 2. Aurora (Ray Conway), 3. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Vespucci (S & K O'Regan), 2. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill), 3. Menapia (J Sweeney)

#fireball – The Irish Fireball fleet had a "soggy session" on the water last night, Tuesday 3rd June, with rain dominating the pre-race period and early part of the race and a fading breeze the feature of the race itself.
Despite the grey skies, there was a healthy presence of Fireballs on the start line – 7 boats. Again the weather data was at odds with what was on the water with a forecast of SW, a record of SSE from the harbour weather website and an actual wind on the water that started at 255˚ and then swung westwards.
A four lap windward leeward was set for the Fireballs who had first start. Initially the weather mark also had a spreader mark but that had gone AWOL by the second rounding. With an ebb tide that was nearly three hours old at the race start the question of which way to avoid the foul tide en route to the weather mark, tucked under the lee of the east pier, was the uppermost thought in the seven boats.
Six of the seven boats decided to go inshore initially, the exceptions being Louise McKenna & Joe O'Reilly (14691) who tacked at the committee boat end of the line and sailed westwards initially on port tack. The rest of the fleet were distributed along the line and headed inshore on starboard tack. Frank Miller & Grattan Donnelly (14713) were at the pin which turned out to be the place not to be, Noel Butler & Stephen Oram (15061) were at the committee boat end, which was the place to be and they led the fleet around the first weather mark. Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (14775) were the next boat down the line from Butler and they too looked in good shape as they rounded the weather mark in second place. Louis Smyth & Cormac Bradley (15007) looked to be in a bit of trouble but benefitted when Cariosa Power & Marie Barry (14854) had to "duck" McKenna on starboard tack. This caused them to drop to leeward of Smyth. McKenna's decision to go right paid off as she rounded the weather mark third followed closely by Smyth. Miller and Mary Chambers & Brenda McGuire (14865) rounded behind Power.
A shift in the wind direction and better breeze meant that those who were on the left hand side of the run were in a better position to gain from the switch. Having said that, Colin & Casey who had gone low were still in good shape at the rounding of the leeward mark! With the limit mark of the starting line still in position, the embargo on crossing the start/finish line during the race meant that this was now an obstacle on the course. Those who went high and left were able to power reach down to the committee boat and bear off towards the leeward mark. Butler, McKenna, Smyth, Power, Miller and Chambers took this route – Colin was the exception going to the opposite end of the start/finish line obstruction.
On the second beat the start line was still "at large" and (at least) one boat passed between committee boat and pin. Butler and McKenna tacked to avoid it and Smyth went outside the pin. Having rounded behind McKenna at the leeward mark, Smyth overtook her en route to the 2nd weather mark to slot into 3rd place behind Butler and Colin. These three boats retained their positions down the 2nd off-wind leg, but at the leeward mark Colin tacked immediately while both Butler and Smyth took a hitch to the west (or RHS) of the beat. At this stage the wind was starting to ease and swing slightly further westwards – not enough to make it a fetch to the weather mark but enough to allow a modest easing of sheets which had the added benefit of allowing progress to be maintained over what was a slightly lumpy sea. Colin's immediate tack didn't pay off and Smyth was able to sail over the top of him, albeit from a position of probably sixty metres upwind. Smyth also closed significantly on Butler, but on the third rounding of the weather mark – sans spreader mark – Butler & Oram got distance again. Colin lost further places to McKenna & O'Reilly and Power & Barry and found himself in the company of Miller & Donnelly at the weather mark. Going down the off-wind leg, Butler and Smyth were "comfortable" but Power and McKenna were keeping very close quarters in the overall context of the race.
A shortened course was signalled at the 3rd leeward mark and again Smyth seemed to close the gap on the water to Butler but it must have been an optical illusion because Butler's winning margin time-wise was over 1½ minutes.
McKenna rounded the leeward mark ahead of Power and appeared to be applying the appropriate cover to her close rival, but as the pair approached the finish line, it became increasingly apparent that Power had sailed out from "underneath" McKenna in the quest to get to the finish line next. And so it proved for although she appeared to be to leeward of McKenna, Power had enough speed (and it appears distance) to tack below her rival, cross her and claim third place on the night.
DBSC Tuesday Nights: Series 1, Tuesday 3rd June.
1 Noel Butler & Stephen Oram 15061 NYC
2 Louis Smyth & Cormac Bradley 15007 Coal Harb.
3 Cariosa Power & Marie Barry 14854 NYC

Due to the fading breeze and a tide that was still ebbing, most of the Fireball fleet were towed home. Noel & Stephen's reward for winning by such a comfortable margin is that they got to sail most of the way home – at least to the harbour mouth!
In overall terms Noel Butler and Stephen Oram (5pts) are very comfortably ahead of the chasing pack, but only 3 points cover the next three boats – Cariosa Power and Marie Barry (13pts), Neil Colin and Margaret Casey (15pts) and Louis Smyth and Cormac Bradley (16pts).
In 10 days' time the Fireball fleet will convene in Clontarf for the Open Championships and Classic Fireball Regatta, 14/15th June with a six race programme. Fireballers resident in Ireland who read this report are encouraged to make a serious effort to get to this event which has been planned to coincide with other festivities in Clontarf over that weekend – the 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf. Of course readers from further afield are also most welcome!

#dbsc – CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Maranda (M Kelly), 2. Solidarity (Whelan/McCabe/Cary/Cramer), 3. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

Ensign - 1. NYC1 (A Dooley), 2. INSC2 (A Rumball), 3. RIYC 1 (Tim Goodbody)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 3. Incubus (C Power/M Barry)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Slipstream (Julie Ascoop), 3. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

PY CLASS - 1. Colin Galavan (Laser), 2. R Kenneally (Laser), 3. Tom Murphy (K1)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Cresendo (L Balfe), 3. Blue Moon (C Collins & B McCormack)