It was a testing day for the DBSC Flying Fifteen fleet on Saturday with a strong and gusty southwest wind but PRO Brian Mathews and his team got two races completed. As well as the regulars there were a few new crews including Sean Craig & Eoin Laverty and Dave Gorman & Chris Doorly presumably getting together for the upcoming Championships of Ireland hosted by the NYC in September.
As with the keelboats, some decided to stay ashore, others went out for a look and didn’t race and some retired. Those who stayed were tested physically and mentally but it was exciting sailing.
It was a short start line but the fleet got away at the first time of asking, Gorman started to weather at the committee boat end and held his line to take advantage of the small shifts particularly as they got closer to the weather mark which was close to the harbour entrance. It was close at the weather mark with Mathews and Craig and Mulvin all rounding close together.
With the strong gusts and with the SB3s broaching on the downwind there was reluctance for the Fifteens to fly the spinnakers. Gorman pulled out a good lead downwind and led all the way for the three laps to take the gun with Mathews second and Craig third.
The second race followed the same pattern again with Gorman starting at the committee boat and working hard to get the lead by the weather mark. Mathews was second with Mulligan third and Craig fourth.
