#flyingiffteen – The Flying Fifteen Southern Championships hosted by WHSC in Dunmore East took place in classic Dunmore East conditions with its SW winds and large waves at the weekend and was won by Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly (NYC) , Ben Mulligan & Alan Green (NYC) were in second place with Brian Willis & John McPeake (CASC) in third place. It was a joint event with the 420 Munster Championships and the Fireball Nationals.

Results sheet downloadable below as a jpeg file.

On Saturday PRO Con Murphy postponed racing for two hours as there were winds over twenty knots and a large sea. Eventually we got out and three races were held in 14-22 knots of breeze from the southwest.
In the first race the tide was going out and there was still a big sea, Mulligan was quick out of the blocks and led for the first lap, the racing was very close with Gorman, McKee, Statham and Willis snapping at his heels. On the second lap Gorman took the lead and held it to the finish, second was McKee, third Mulligan and fourth Statham.

Race 2 started shortly after, the tide was now coming in and most of the fleet headed in towards the shoreline on the right, there didn't seem to be a huge difference between those who went out as they had more wind but they did have to battle bigger sea's. Again racing was incredibly close, Gorman lead all the way and McKee was again second, Mulligan third and Statham again fourth.

By race 3 the winds had dropped to only about 15knots, local class captain Charlie Boland & Rob McConnell started on the pin end and crossed the fleet to take the lead, a lead they kept to the end despite the close attention of the other contenders. At the last mark Gorman was second, with Mulligan, Willis and McKee close behind. Downwind to the finish these all sailed different lines hoping to make gains, Willis on the right came in second, Mulligan out on the left inches behind was third and Gorman going down the middle was fourth a further boat length behind, all very close!.

After racing most of the exhausted competitors had badly needed food and refreshments at the club BBQ. As usual the hospitality of this great club was fantastic, many also enjoyed the other local restaurants and bars and with it being the 4th of July there was plenty of entertainment into the small hours. Gorman & Doorly led overnight from Mulligan and McKee who were tied a couple of points behind. All to play for on Sunday and with the racing so close any of the top four could win.

What would Sunday bring? The forecast was for it to be a bit lighter, 10-14knots from the south with rain. As the boats went out there was still a large swell with crashing waves as it was wind against tide. The committee boat had a lot of trouble settling and our hats go off to them as they did a great job in difficult conditions. With the strong tide most of the fleet were over the line and there was a general recall despite the fact that the U flag was up. Racing got going again after the 420 start, it was quiet light now but in the distance the sky was black. On the fleet went, Mulligan, McKee and Gorman went right, the wind was filling in now and the waves were getting bigger, those on the right got lifted. Gorman was going nicely when suddenly disaster struck as he showed his crew a broken tiller extension, they tried to continue but it was impossible with the large crashing waves. It looked like the regatta was literally slipping from their grasp, a decision was made to go ashore and see if they could get another one and get out for the last race, this they managed. Meanwhile racing continued, McKee, Mulligan and Willis were battling away, on the second beat they all went out and this allowed Meagher & Poole (NYC) who went in towards the shore to take the lead before the last weather mark. On the downwind leg they all took different lines, Mulligan went left, out of the tide, and won the race, Willis was second, Local man Boland was third with Meagher slipping to fourth.

One race to go, what would happen? With discards in play Mulligan was one point behind Gorman, with McKee and Willis 2 points behind. The wind from the SE was blowing hard and as the fleet were beating the waves just seemed to get bigger and bigger, it was like a scene from Perfect Storm. Mulligan and McKee started down the line but Gorman started near the committee boat. Gorman sailed the waves really well, both he and crew were sitting so far back in the boat to get over the waves, with their new tiller extension they got to the weather mark first followed by Willis, Mulligan was back in eight. The run was great on the big waves, on the second beat the wind shifted to the right and this helped Gorman who had gone into the right. The wind was now lighter and the sea's more normal, Gorman extended his lead to deservedly take the race and the Championships.
In a further twist all was not confirmed till ashore as the word was that six boats had been disqualified under the U flag, none of the leaders were involved so the results stood.

At the prize giving Club Commodore thanked the sponsors, the many volunteers including the PRO and his team, Dave Gorman did likewise but included his long suffering crew Chris. Niall Meagher & Keith Poole won the Silver Fleet. Those who didn't travel missed out on a great weekends sailing in a fantastic location.

The next event is the Championships of Ireland which will be held at NYC in September..

#fireball – Racing has been postponed for two hours this morning at Dunmore East in County Waterford for a combined fleet of Fireballs, Flying Fifteens and 420s. Race Officer Con Murphy says big seas running outside the harbour suggests competitior safety may be an issue. Wind is in the high teens. 

#flyingfifteen – On a balmy summer's evening Neil Colman & Mick Quinn in Flyer won the Flying Fifteen DBSC race last night comfortably in the end but they didn't have it all their own way as O'Sullivan with Ben Mulligan crewing lead for the first part of the race.

On what looked like a perfect evening for sailing it turned out to be challenging with the strong incoming tide and a shifty s-se wind. The question was whether to go inshore out of the tide or to stay out in the tide but pick up the stronger wind. Out worked and as the fleet approached Bullock mark those who stayed out lead the way including O'Sullivan, Colman and Dooley.

It was on to East mark and then Pier, at Pier the wind went soft, Colman closed the gap and on the beat up to Island mark took the lead which he held to the end to deservedly take the gun. Meanwhile Green had moved up to third and was neck and neck with O'Sullivan, a poor mark rounding ended the challenge and O'Sullivan was second with Green third. McCambridge was an excellent fourth followed by the O'Neills in fifth.

It was a great night's racing but it should be noted that there were a couple of close port and starboard incidents on the course- crews need to look more diligently and react in good time!
This weekend the fleet head to Dunmore East for the South Coast Championships.

Results here

#flyingfifteen – It's days like this that we wonder why we sail, Dublin Bay was full of holes at the Seapoint side with the prevailing wind battling with the sea breeze but Suzanne McGarry and her DBSC team got two races in with a mainly s-sw breeze with an incoming tide. Both races in the Flying Fifteen class were won by Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly in Betty who managed to find the wind.

Race 1 started after a long delay and a relocation of the Committee boat, it was a square line and with the tide coming in. Most boats therefore headed towards the left but Gorman along with Alan Dooley went right where there appeared to be more wind. This proved to be the case as those on the left were all stopped in a hole, the race continued, some on the left were even trying the spinnaker but the sea breeze never filled in from the sea and Gorman won with Dooley second and Murphy third, there was a big gap to the rest but the Cahil brothers were fourth and Geraldine ONeill fifth.

It was hoped the wind would have settled for Race 2, it didn't! Again those who went more right gained, Murphy and Dooley were on that side and Gorman made his way over, again these three were well ahead, at the gybe mark the wind had gone around or so it seemed. Again it was the sea breeze fight the prevailing, Gorman was quick to spot it and gybed out to the left and took the lead from a frustrated Murphy and Dooley. These two battled to the finish and that was the finishing order. Behind Adrian Cooper sailing with his son were going really well and just held off Sherry & Ruddy who were fifth. Tom Murphy leads Series 2 after four races.

It was great to see so many boats out racing. This Thursday the DBSC series continues and next weekend the fleet head to Dunmore East for the Southern Championships.

#flyingfifteen – The Flying Fifteen DBSC Second Series started much the same way as the First Series ended with Chris Doorly & Alan Green in Frequent Flyer winning from Niall Colman & Mick Quinn in Flyer.

On a cloudy grey evening there was a fresh southerly breeze and the tide had just turned to go out, despite PRO Jack Roys warning about the tide a number of boats were over the line but all went back. The first beat was up to Bullock, there was slightly more pressure out on the left and Doorly was first to the mark followed closely by Colman, Geraldine O'Neill in Mellifuence and Brian ONeill & Mary Jane Mulligan in Final Fling. It was a reach to East, at the mark Colman got inside Doorly to take the lead. These two were well ahead now and on the next beat Colman stayed out as Doorly went closer to the shore to where there appeared to be more wind. There was and they took the lead again but it was very close all the way, on the last reach it was tight but with good spinnaker work by Green and by driving down the waves Doorly pulled ahead to take the gun. Colman was second, behind Brian ONeill got up to an excellent third with Geraldine & Dermot ONeill fourth.

After sailing all the crews adjourned to the bar and enjoyed their monthly fleet dinner.

This Saturday the DBSC series continues and the following week the fleet travel to Dunmore East for the Southern Championships.

#flyingfifteen – It's for days like this that we sail, a sunny afternoon with a nice force 3/4 on excellent Flying Fifteen DBSC courses set by Suzanne McGarry and her team on Freebird. There were two races, the first a windward leeward course won by Ian Mathews & Keith Poole in Gruffalo and the second an Olympic triangle course won by Alan Green & Chris Doorly in Frequent Flyer. The wind was forecast to be from the SW but it was mainly westerly and was very shifty, the tide was ebbing.

After last weekend's great racing at the Northern Championships many in the fleet upped their game and racing was extremely close, the Cahills, McCambridge & Murphy and Coughlin & Marshal were in great form sailing particularly well.

In Race 1 Mathews was out of the blocks quickly and lead all the way, behind it was a closer affair, Green had a poor start and was at the left side while those who started adjacent the committee boat and went right had more pressure, Tom Murphy and Tom Galvin along with Coughlin and McCambridge were also doing well as they approached the weather mark. There was plenty of action as the wind strength increased, Fraser Mitchel fell out of his boat, Galvin had to do turns, other came in on port and didn't give way to starboard boats (this should not happen!) while Green did a quick gybe set that kept him in touch with the leaders. On lap 3 Green finally got passed and pulled away from Mulvin and the Cahill brothers to take second place, Galvin was third with David & Valerie Mulvin fourth.

Race two was just as exciting, the committee boat end was favoured, Mathews, Tom Murphy and Tom Galvin were the first group at the weather mark and they went in towards the shore, those on the right were not far behind, positions changed on the tight reach with Mathews leading Green second and Galvin third., again McCambridge in Hi Fibre and Coughlin in Ash were not far behind. On the next beat the right paid but it was shifty, Mathews went more left and Green took advantage in the shifts to get the lead, a lead he was to keep till the gun. On the final reach Mathews and Galvin had spinnaker troubles but Galvin managed to sort himself out to finish second, Mathews was third, McCambridge fourth and Tom Muprhy fifth.
It was great to see so many boats out racing. This Thursday the DBSC series continues this week.

Saturday's DBSC results are here

#dbsc – Going into the last race of the First Series in the Flying Fifteen class four boats were in contention, Frequent Flyer sailed by Chris Doorly & Alan Green won on the night to tie the Series with Dave Gorman's Betty who didn't sail. Neil Colman & Mick Quinn in Flyer were one point behind in third overall with Mulvin & Beirne another point behind.

On what looked like a perfect evening for sailing it turned out to be a frustrating one for most fleets as the winds on the bay came from different directions with a big hole with no wind in the middle where most of the boats were! Initially the wind was from the NW and the tide was ebbing, there were a number of boats over the line, some went back including Colman and a few didn't go back. Doorly had a bad start and at the Harbour mark Mulvin led from Balfe, O'Sullivan and Balfe with the O'Neills not far behind. On the run most boats seemed to head out left, Doorly went right in a more direct line to the mark, half way down those on the left stopped with no wind.
There was a lot of flapping around and at this stage the tide was flooding. Doorly stayed on the right following a few SB3's and Mulvin did likewise, meanwhile Colman and Doyle were looking good over on the left where there appeared to be wind. It didn't last, on the right Doorly got a zepher of wind and kept it going to get around the East mark with a comfortable lead, second was Mulvin followed by Colman and Doyle but the fleet was well spread out at this stage. This was how it finished as PRO Jack Roy shortened the course at Battery to the relief of all.

The First Series was a great success for the class with great numbers out every week providing close competitive racing.

This Saturday the DBSC series continues.

#flyingfifteen – The Flying Fifteen Northern Championships hosted by Strangford Lough YC in Whiterock took place in perfect conditions at the weekend and was won by Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly (NYC) who sailed a very consistent series, Ian Mathews & Keith Poole (NYC) were in second place with Roger Chamberlain & Simon Murray from the local club in third place. There was also a great performance from Lee Statham & Andy Paul (WHSC) who finished fourth in their first event.

On Saturday three races were held in 10-15 knots of breeze from the northwest, the weather mark was out in the Lough so the usual tidal streams had to be negotiated but the PRO PJ Gault set great course's with good start lines. In the first Race Gorman was quick out of the blocks and headed left to stay out of the ebbing tide. He was first at the weather mark but was closely followed by Mathews, Chamberlain and Lawson, this was the way it stayed over the race to the finish.
Race 2: Mathews led the way but on the second beat current Irish Champions McCleery & Dougan took the lead and won the race, behind it was very close with Mathews pipping Gorman on the line for second place. Roger Chamberlain led all the way in Race 3, Gorman had a poor start at the pin end and managed to get back in touch by the weather mark finishing second holding off Lee Statham (WHSC) and Shane McCarty fourth.

After racing most of the competitors had food and refreshments in the club and then adjourned to Daft Eddies for more refreshments. Some visited the Down Cruising Club on board their club the old lightship Petrel which is 100 years old this week.

Sunday was again sunny with a slightly more northerly breeze. There were three boats in contention for the title, Gorman, Chamberlain and Mathews- all to play for! The tide still had an hour to come in, Gorman started at the boat end as there was more breeze on that side of the course and he had the option of tacking in the shifts. This he did and he led at the weather mark but it was all very close, Statham and McKee were close and the lead changed several times with McKee taking the gun, Gorman second, Statham third and Malcolm Crichton fourth. With Mathews fifth and Chamberlain sixth this was enough to give Gorman & Doorly the title. They sailed the last race which was a great race, Statham led the way sailing well but on the last reach he had a problem with the spinnaker and this allowed Gorman through, Statham didn't give up and as they approached the line Gorman lee bowed him to stay in front and take the gun, after over an hours racing there were second between the first five boats, great racing!

At the prize giving local class captain Roger Chamberlain thanked the many volunteers including the PRO and his team, Dave Gorman did likewise but included his long suffering crew Chris. Charlie Boland & Rob McConnell (WHSC) won the Silver Fleet. 

The next event is the South Coast Championships which will be held in Dunmore East in July.

#dbsc – Last night's 16-boat DBSC Flying Fifteen race consisted of nine marks all to be left to port and started with a good upwind leg to Bulloch Mark on Dublin Bay. Much was lost and gained on this first leg. The fleet got away 'all clear'. In general, the fleet favoured the right hand side of both the starting line and the upwind leg. Perhaps the incoming tide was over–considered. The fleet were all very much to the right wing side of the upwind leg. However, leaders Alan Green and Mick Quinn taught the fleet the lesson that sometimes sticking with your wing principles pay off as they literally arrived on port tack out of 'left field' to round Bulloch with a commanding lead.

The closest chasers were David Gorman Tom Murphy, David Mulvin, Tom Galvin and Alan Dooley.

After many gybes, beats etc Gorman eventually got close to them following a tight reach to Pier Mark. On the subsequent beat to Island Mark, Gorman took advantage and ultimately won the evening.

In conclusion, the race for the Thursday FF crown has hotted up! Gorman is now Number one on nine points followed by Coleman on 11; Green carrying 12 and Dooley on 13.

DBSC results here.

#flyingfifteen – Betty sailed by Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly won the two races at the weekend where 17 Flying Fifteen fleet turned out in the DBSC Saturday series. Tom & Eamon Galvin also had a great day getting two seconds. Race Officer Barry O'Neill and his team on Freebird set great windward- leeward course's in a building southerly wind. The start line was long enough this week and the bias was at the committee boat for both races.
Race 1: the tide was flooding and the wind was oscillating, there appeared to be slightly more wind upon the left towards the harbour, this proved correct as Tom Murphy reached the weather mark first just ahead of the Galvin brothers and Gorman with Mulligan & Green in Frequent Flyer just behind. Downwind Galvin took the lead and it was only on the next beat that Gorman got ahead by going in to the right for more pressure. It remained close up to the finish, Gorman first, Galvin second, Mathews third and Mulligan fourth.
Race 2 the committee boat end had a slight bias and the tide had started to ebb, Mulligan tacked to the right as the main fleet went left, it was shifty and Mulligan was looking good, suddenly there was another shift, those on the left got a lift and Murphy again lead at the weather mark followed by Gorman, Mulligan and Galvin. Downwind Gorman took the lead, on the remaining beats the wind had shifted slightly to the right and going towards the shore paid each time. Gorman led the way to the line, Galvins were second with Mulligan third and Mathews fourth.
A feature of the racing was how close it is between all the boats, It was great to see so many boats out racing. This Thursday the DBSC series continues this week.