#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo - 1. Kernach (Eoin O'Driscoll), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Fox in Sox (A Jones), 3. Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins), 3. Fox in Sox (A Jones)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Kamikaze (P.Nash/B.McIntyre), 2. Black Sheep (E Healy), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson & C Nicholson), 2. Black Sheep (E Healy), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Carrabeg (D Martin), 2. Taiscealai (B Richardson), 3. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless), 2. Quest (J Skerritt), 3. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 2. Hi Fibre (Michael McCambridge), 3. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy), 2. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 3. Perfect Ten (A Balfe)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 3. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1 - 1. Spray (C & O Corrigan), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Dart (Pierre Long)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 2. Richard Tate (Laser)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Paramour (Larry Power et al), 2. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 3. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (C Heath/G Miles), 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 Race 1 - 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

SQUIB Race 2 - 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Kookaburra (P & M Dee)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Sweet Martini (Bruce Carswell), 2. Fortitudine (D & A Clarke), 3. Just Jasmin (Philip Smith)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

 

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Kernach (Eoin O'Driscoll), 2. Prima Nocte (Patrick Burke et al), 3. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Prima Nocte (Patrick Burke et al)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Black Velvet (Leslie Parnell), 3. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Bon Exemple (C Byrne), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Rockabill V (Paul O'Higgins)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Ruth (L Shanahan), 3. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Antix (D Ryan), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Borraine (Ean Pugh)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 A - 1. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless), 2. Quest (B Cunningham/J Skerritt), 3. Cries of Passion (B Maguire/ A O'Connor)

CRUISERS 3 A Echo - 1. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 2. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless), 3. Carrabeg (D.Martin/R.Deasy)

CRUISERS 3 B Echo - 1. Cacciatore (M Ni Cheallachain), 2. Taiscealai (B Richardson), 3. Saki (Paget McCormack et al)

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

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams), 3. Sir Ossis of the River (D Bergin)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Frequent Flyer (C Doorley/A Green), 2. Thingamabob (T Galvin), 3. Fflogger (Alan Dooley)

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

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 2. Diane ll (A Claffey/C Helme), 3. Paramour (Larry Power et al)

SB20 - 1. Alert Packaging (J Burke D Burke), 2. Probably (B Riordan), 3. Venuesworld.com (Ger Dempsey)

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (C Heath/G Miles), 2. The Den (A. Costello/G.Millar), 3. Euphanzel lll (M Muldoon)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Chillax (Colin Galavan)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Fortitudine (D & A Clarke), 3. White Lotus (Paul Tully)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Warrior (D Shanahan), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. White Lotus (Paul Tully)

#dbsc – CRUISERS 1 - 1. Powder Monkey (C Moore)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Borraine (Ean Pugh), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 3. Black Sheep (E Healy)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 2. Solidarity (Whelan/McCabe/Cary/Cramer), 3. Maranda (M Kelly)

Ensign - 1. RIYC 1 (Tim Goodbody), 2. RIYC 2 (Mark McGibney)

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

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan), 3. Glenmiller (P Cusack)

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

PY CLASS - 1. R Kenneally (Laser), 2. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 3. Colin Galavan (Laser)

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

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. After You Too (Michael Blaney), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

BENETEAU 31.7 ECHO - 1. Fiddly Bits (Timmins/Quigley/Murray/Breen), 2. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

CRUISERS 0 ECHO - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Wow (George Sisk), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 3. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al), 3. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al)

CRUISERS 1 ECHO - 1. Raptor (D.Hewitt et al), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

CRUISERS 2 ECHO - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Utopia (J Healy)

DRAGON - 1. Phantom (D.Williams), 2. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 3. Dublin Bay (G Treacy)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 2. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle), 3. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan)

Ensign - 1. INSC1 (K Rumball)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 3. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey)

PY CLASS - 1. Colin Galavan (Laser), 2. G Walsh (Laser), 3. Richard Tate (Laser)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Cresendo (L Balfe), 2. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al)

#dbsc – BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson), 3. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power)

CRUISERS 0 ECHO - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 3. Wow (George Sisk)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 ECHO - 1. Bon Exemple (P Byrne), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Fox in Sox (A Jones)

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

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Utopia (J Healy), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 2 ECHO - 1. Kamikaze (P.Nash/B.McIntyre), 2. Antix (D Ryan), 3. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Cartoon (McCormack/Brady/Lawless), 2. Supernova (McStay/Timbs/Monaghan/Costello), 3. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

CRUISERS 3 ECHO - 1. Taiscealai (B Richardson), 2. Pamafe (M Costello), 3. Chinook (A Bradley/P Morgan)

DRAGON - 1. Phantom (D.Williams), 2. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 3. Decision (M Martensson)

FIREBALL RACE 1 - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. No Name (B McGuire)

FIREBALL RACE 2 - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. No Name (B McGuire)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 2. The Gruffalo (K Poole/I Mathews), 3. Thingamabob (T Galvin)

GLEN - 1. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 2. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche)

IDRA 14 FOOT RACE 1 - 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Spray (C & O Corrigan)

IDRA 14 FOOT RACE 2 - 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Spray (C & O Corrigan)

MERMAID RACE 1 - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan), 3. Tijuana (David Stedmond)

MERMAID RACE 2 - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan), 3. Tijuana (David Stedmond)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Bandit (Kirwan/Cullen/Brown), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Paramour (Larry Power et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Gusto (C Heath/G Miles), 3. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 2. Rupert (R & P Lovegrove), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Little Demon (Sheila Power), 3. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS ECHO - 1. Sweet Martini (Bruce Carswell), 2. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney), 3. Nirvana (Bernard Neeson)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

#sb20 – A steady 10-14knts north-easterly greeted the SB20 fleet for the second DBSC Thursday of the season writes Michael O'Connor. Full results here.

Despite the fact that we were missing Thursday regulars Justin Burke and his Alert Packaging team, another three boats did make it out to the start line this Thursday making eight starters in total this week... not bad for a Thursday so early in the season and great that the numbers continue to build!

We were delighted to welcome Probably (Billy, Ian and Mark) back to the fold and both Bad (Enda, Gerry et al) and Smoke on the Water (Bob, Louise et al) decided to continue on where they left off last Sunday. Also back on the scene was our former Class Captain and class supremo Doug sailing Manamana with Ronan and Breffni - definitely a combo to watch this year!

Back to the race... A heavy pin end bias surprisingly caught out a few of the fleet and it was Venuesworld (Ger, Chris and Rory) that nailed it with Manamana in close pursuit on their shoulder. A pretty one sided beat meant that most of the fleet flipped onto port straight away after the start and drag raced it out to the right hand side of the course. Should Be... (Michael, Owen and Gary) managed to get there first just ahead of Venuesworld, Bad and Manamana and after a couple of quick tacks near the mark sneaked around the mark ahead of the chasing pack. A long run towards Sandycove saw the fleet spread out as everyone tried to get their own bit of breeze and several boats including SacreBleu (Richard, Ben et al) and Seriously Bonkers (Peter, Dave and Michael) made a charge up the fleet to get back into the mix. Venuesworld was less lucky as they had gybed out early towards the right hand side of the run but the breeze died on them and allowed the rest of the fleet to gain. When the fleet converged again, Should Be... led from Manamana, Sacre Bleu and Bad.

The boats continued to tussle around the course with place changes a very regular occurrence - a great feature of the new Thursday courses is that fetches are (practically) no more and with (usually) proper beats and runs, processions appear to be a thing of the past! In the end, Should Be... took the gun followed by Venuesworld in second (who managed to storm back up the fleet after their first run 'mare) just ahead of Bad in third. Great crew work on Venuesworld allowed them to do a tidier drop and sneak inside Bad on the last short beat to the finish. The prodigal sons, Probably, were in fourth (which was not too shabby for their first day back, trying to remember where everything goes!) and Seriously Bonkers were in fifth, followed closely by SacreBleu and Smoke on the Water. Unfortunately for Manamana, their start was just a little too good and they were OCS'd.

Buy an SB20 here. 

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Borraine (Ean Pugh), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 2. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 3. Maranda (M Kelly)

Ensign - 1. INSC1 (K Rumball), 2. INSC2 (A Rumball)

FIREBALL - 1. Incubus (C Power/M Barry), 2. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey), 3. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

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

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 2. Spray (C & O Corrigan)

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS - 1. D O'Connell (Laser), 2. Gary O'Hare (Laser), 3. R Kenneally (Laser)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Carmen (B Duffy), 3. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al)

SQUIB - 1. Periguin (N Colcough), 2. Tais (Michael O'Connell)

#dbsc – The country's largest yacht racing club is surveying members on dinghy sailing requirements and has also moved to correct a perception that it operates an 'age bar'.

It follows a national debate on the state of dinghy racing that has led to sweeping change at the Irish Sailing Association.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Commodore Pat Shannon says that the perception the club does not cater for under 18s has taken hold but it is not the case. 

Writing on the DBSC website Shannon says 'The DBSC committee would like to make it clear to members, potential members, junior organisers and the wider community generally that such emphatically is not the case. It's a perception but an incorrect one.'

Shannon points to the fact that many boats on the DBSC register (of which there are over 300 and 1200 members) are crewed and sailed by young people under 18. At least three members of the current DBSC committee have sailed on DBSC keelboats since childhood. DBSC activities were recently reviewed by Afloat blogger WM Nixon.

It appears the misapprehension is perhaps understandable though, for while the Club throughout its history has welcomed all comers to membership, regardless of creed, gender or class distinctions, it no longer organises races for juniors. It did so in the past and, when support for this activity declined, joined the Dun Laoghaire clubs in organising the September Sunday series. It still provides logistical support – ribs and access to its results system and web site – but recently it decided not to be classed among the organisers.

This was prompted by the realisation that with the growing emphasis on child protection and parental involvement DBSC was not in a position to accept legal responsibility for an activity which was outside their competence and remit. The feeling was that the waterfront clubs, which were more closely and personally involved in the formation of young sailors, were in a better position to accept this responsibility.

Where some issues might arise with its present programme is with the Club's PY class. In recent times it has provided racing for a variety of Lasers (including Radials and 4.7s), OK Dinghies, RS200s and RS400s, Wayfarers and GP14s. Boats that are sailed uniquely by juniors such as Optimists and Toppers don't easily fit this particular mix. Not for reasons of safety, exactly, but because of potential race management and course setting problems on courses on which they would have to race alongside high performing boats like Flying 15s and Fireballs.

Shannon adds: 'I should add that DBSC, in common with sailing clubs everywhere, is having to review its dinghy programme. As part of this process, dinghy boat owners and others who might be concerned are currently receiving an on-line questionnaire asking for feed-back on the service provided'.  The questionnaire is here.

Another dimension is that, with continuing austerity and the need to control its cost base, DBSC committee early this year decided to undertake a long-term strategic review of its racing programme – aiming perhaps for a consolidation of courses, with keelboats and dinghies racing from the a single committee vessel on adjoining or perhaps concentric circuits.