With strong wind form the North East 18/20 knots and gusting over 25 and a big lumpy sea the Flying Fifteen fleet started by Jack and his jolly crew from the DBSC flagship "Freebird" with a beat out to Zebra mark in a big sea writes our special correspondent.
First around was "frequent flyer" with Alan Green just back from the Mediterranean flying fifteen regatta with Finn sailor Richard Tait as guest crew. With "Ignis Caput" Dave Mulvin and Ronan Beirne close beside them as the fleet headed off on a screeching reach to Harbour Mark. "Ignis Caput" took the lead with a gybe around the mark an a roaring run off to Bulloch mark. On this mark guest helm ex Mermaid Champion Jonathan O'Rourke with Joe Hickey sailing "flooger" made a few places with some slick spinnaker work on the gybe.
Your scribe heard a fella on the bus the other day saying he had been to Las Vegas and it was just amazing, well I have never been to Vegas but he would want to try a flying fifteen in Dublin Bay in these conditions! On rounding Bulloch mark a beat out to East into the big sea. On this leg Niall Coleman and Mick Quinn in "flyer" were making ground but it was "Ignis Caput" first around and off an another screaming broad reach to Bay Mark where the Dragons were rounding. Choosing to go on to the pier and avoid the Dagon fleet, "Ignis Caput" tacked only to have jib sheets knot backing the jib and stopping the boat. A quick back tack and with lines cleared "Ignis Caput" was able to keep the cover on "flyer" to get the gun with "Floggger" third and John O'Sullivan and Ken Ryan in "Rhubarb" fourth. Regretfully as "frequent flyer" crossed the finish line a stay parted and the mast came down. See photo here. Thanks to the DBSC rib crew for attending to the disabled fifteen and other fiftees who remained in attendance. Jack Roy set a great course and thanks to the "Freebird" crew for their work. "Ignis Caput" now has the first two Thursday guns.
See DBSC Thursday results HERE
