A vintage half tonner took IRC handicap honours on a very blustery Dublin Bay this afternoon in one of the biggest classes of the 2011 Dublin Bay Sailing Club season. Brian Cusack's Dick Dastardly from the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club wiped the grin from a much newer Corby 25 to win in Cruisers II, a class with an entry of 20 yachts this season.

Although Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan) could not overhaul the half tonner on IRC the National Yacht Club entry did succeed on ECHO handicap. 

There was plenty of action on the bay as strong winds from the West that caused last Thursday night's racing to be scrubbed entirely continued to blow. As a result there are no dinghy results or Flying fifteen results this evening. The Dragon class has been racing for East coast honours since Friday and the 11-boat fleet did not come under the DBSC flag today.

Another vintage design, Supernova from the Royal Irish YC and skippered by Ken Lawless was on top in Cruisers III. The Dubois Starfish design from the 1970s beat John Counahan's Sonata, Asterix.

In the one design classes Dave Meeke's Alias from the DMYC beat club mate Michael Cutliffe's Ruffles. Third was Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al). Full DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 28 MAY 2011 below: 

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne), 3. Errislannan (Patrick Kirwan)

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

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Dick Dastardly (B.Cusack et al), 2. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Dick Dastardly (B.Cusack et al)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Pamafe (Michael Costello), 2. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill), 3. Hyflyer (John Barnard)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 3. Pamafe (Michael Costello)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al)

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

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney), 2. Calypso (Howard Knott), 3. Windshift (R O'Flynn et al)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Calypso (Howard Knott), 2. Windshift (R O'Flynn et al), 3. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien)

Howth Yacht Club: WEDNESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 25/05/2011 Class 1 IRC: 1, Trinculo M Fleming; 2, Tiger Hughes/Harris; Class 1 HPH: 1, Trinculo M Fleming; 2, Tiger Hughes/Harris; Class 2 IRC: 1, Dux A Gore-Grimes; 2, Superhero Byrne/Banahan; 3, Sunburn I Byrne; Class 2 HPH: 1, C'est la Vie Flannelly/Others; 2, Dux A Gore-Grimes; 3, Superhero Byrne/Banahan; Class 3 HPH: 1, Hard on Port F O'Driscoll; 2, Hellyhunter L McMurtry; White Sails HPH: 1, Tantrum 3 O'Leary/Klimche; 2, Bite the Bullet C Bermingham; 3, Alphida H Byrne; White Sails IRC: 1, Bite the Bullet C Bermingham; 2, Alphida H Byrne; 3, Tantrum 3 O'Leary/Klimche

Howth Yacht Club TUE + SAT SERIES 1 (RACE) 24/05/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Rita Curley/Lynch; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Leila R CooperTUESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 24/05/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 2, Yellow Peril N Murphy; 3, Gold Dust Walls/Browne; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Geppetto O'Reilly/McDyer; 2, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 3, Haemoglobin Mullen/O'Dea; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; 2, Puffin E Harte; Squib HPH: 1, Puffin E Harte; 2, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Northside Dragon J Bourke; 2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy; 2, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan

The Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club's Frank Hamilton was first home tonight in the IDRA 14 foot dinghy class racing on Dublin Bay. Second was Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne) with Squalls (Stephen Harrison) third.

In the single handed Laser class former national champion Chris Arrowsmith made a return to the class to beat Royal St. George Club mate Sean Craig. Third was Dave Cahill. Full DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 24 MAY 2011 below:

FIREBALL - 1. nn (S Oram), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Squalls (Stephen Harrison)

MERMAID - 1. Tiller Girl (J.O'Rourke), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 3. Lively Lady (G O'Neill & M Hanney)

PY CLASS - 1. C Arrowsmith (Laser), 2. Sean Craig (Laser), 3. D Cahill (Laser)

The RS Feva Leinster Championships taking place at Howth Yacht Club were postponed today following gusts of over 40-knots in the race area. Today's sailing schedule was initially postponed before the championship was scrubbed at lunch time. The hope is to rerun the event later in the Summer.

Two races were completed on Saturday in 12 knots of wind in Howth sound.

Louise Flynn Byrne and David Johnston started where they left off at the Mitsubishi Youth Nationals earlier this month and lead the 15 boat fleet ahead of Conor Totterdell and Stephen Craig of the RStGYC.

An error in rounding the windward mark ensured that Conor and Stephen won the first race, HYC's Claude Mollard and Jennie Harris were second and HYC's Nickie Delamer and Conor Howard came third.

With gusts of over 24 knots the race offer took the decision to shorten the course and allowed the sailors to return ashore. Race 2 was won by Louise and David, with Claude and Jenny in 2nd place and Conor Totterdell and Stephen Craig in 3rd.

Southerly winds gusting to 25–knots brought the DBSC Commodore's modified A35 yacht Gringo home for a fine win in Cruisers One IRC of Dublin Bay Sailing Club this afternoon writes our Dublin Bay Correspondent. Tony Fox's first win of the season however came only after a close race with John Maybury's top performing J109 Joker and Colin Byrne's X-34 Xtravagance.

Ken Lawless continues his success with another win in Cruisers III. Today, the Dubois Starfish design from the Royal Irish Yacht Club beat last Saturday's winner Gung Ho. Payptoo was third.

In a weekend scheduled for the second part of the Royal Alfred's Baily Bowl competition for Dragons, SB3s and Flying fifteens, DBSC has issued only Cruiser class, Ruffian, Shipman and Sigma results this evening.

Former Flying fifteen sailor David Meeke helmed his Ruffian 23 to a win over last Saturday's winner Diane II (Bruce Carswell) of the Royal St. George with former National Champion Derek Mitchell in Ruff Nuff third.

Tim Goodbody stayed top of the Sigma 33s with Ted McCourt's Popje second and Moonshine (R.Moloney/D.O'Flynn) third.

Full DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 21 MAY 2011 below:

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 3. Violet Flame (B.Murphy/L.Osbourne)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Axiom (M.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 3. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 2. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 3. Pamafe (Michael Costello)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 3. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell), 3. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell)

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Euphanzel lll (Louis McSherry et al)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Moonshine (R.Moloney/D.O'Flynn)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney), 2. Coumeenole (Bill Kavanagh), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

A foreshore lease application has been lodged for a series of offshore wind farms in Dublin Bay.

The Dublin Array, to be situated on the Bray and Kish Banks some 10km from the coast, would consist of 145 turbines, each 160m high, operated by Saorgus Energy Ltd.

The project has been criticised by the Coastal Concern Alliance due to its approval in contravention of an EU directive that requires a strategic environmental assessment.

Further details are available at www.saorgus.com and www.coastalconcern.ie.

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat is set to appoint Mark McGibney as Coxwain with effect from 1 June. Eamon O'Leary will become second Coxwain from the same date.

A well-known Dublin Bay and racing sailor, McGibney is the sailing manager of the Royal Irish Yacht Club on Dun Laoghaire's waterfront.

The Dun Laoghaire station is among the busiest in the Irish division.  A Trent-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) 'Anna Livia' and smaller D-Class inshore lifeboat (ILB) are based in the harbour with a crew-panel of 28 local men and women supported by shore-crew and fund-raising volunteers.

Ken Lawless's Supernova emerged the winner of tonight's Dublin Bay Sailing Club Cruisers III race sailed in moderate westerly winds writes our Dublin Bay Correspondent. The Dubois Starfish design beat Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle) who finished second. Last Saturday's race winner Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea) was third. The J80 Jawsome was the Cruisers II winner and in Cruisers I another J design, a 109, Something Else (John Hall) from the National Yacht Club finished first.

On the one design course 13 Flying fifteen's enjoyed a tight race and were one of the only classes to hold spinnakers on the shy reach from Bay to forty foot. Snow White, Frank Burgess's FF from the National Yacht Club notched up another win, this time from club-mate Keith Poole's Gruffalo. Third was The Big Bow Wow (N.Meagher/N.Matthews).

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 19 MAY 2011

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

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

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

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Contango (Barry Cunningham), 2. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 3. Jedi (Sarratt/Austin/McGuinness)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Jedi (Sarratt/Austin/McGuinness)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 3. Small Wonder (Hugh Kelly)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 3. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 3. Puca (P.Burke/R.Henry)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 2. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole), 3. The Big Bow Wow (N.Meagher/N.Matthews)

GLEN - 1. Glenshane (P Hogan), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada), 2. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al), 3. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe)

SB3s - 1. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill), 2. Defiant (R.Hudson/J.Hooper), 3. Smoke (L. McKenna/B.Hobby)

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

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

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

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien), 2. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford), 3. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

The brigantine-rigged tall-ship Antigua sailed into Dublin Port this morning in advance of next weekend's Strangford Lough Festival, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Antigua was originally a fishing boat built in 1957 at Thorne, Yorkshire but her appearance is completely different today. Gone are the fish as the vessel spent four years undergoing reconstruction for the purposes of accommodating paying-passengers. The work was completed in 1997 and this has included the provision of sixteen double cabins in luxurious surroundings.

Individual booking cruises can be made on the brigantine and her fleet-mates which are owned by the Tall Ships Company which take passengers on destinations not just in European waters but also to the Arctic.

The company also operate another brigantine the Artemis, the barque Artemis, the schooner Mare Frisium and the clipper Elizabeth. For further information about the company click here.