There was a familiar ring to this evening's Royal Alfred prizegiving roll call where Baily Bowl trophies were presented to top ranked sailors in four separate classes.

A weekend of one design class action produced a testing five race series. Light to medium north-westerlies prevailed with some big shifts coming off the Dublin bay shoreline making for plenty of place changes both upwind and downwind on well laid, windward-leeward courses.

The competition was hosted by the National YC due to marina replacement works at the Royal St. George YC.

SB3's and Dragons raced on one course in the middle of the bay while the Flying 15's and Squibs race in Seapoint Bay, so close to the Sandymount shore on Saturday that the weather mark was laid in only nine foot of water.

The event - were it required - confirmed that the SB3 is the most popular one design in the country, the class producing a fine fleet of 22 boats almost twice the size of the other three fleets.

Allthough Howth's Ben Duncan, sailing Sharkbait, continues his domination of the class it was good to see Bray Sailing Club''s Marty Cuppage in third overall, one place behind Belfast Lough's David Cheyne.

Local favourite Sean Craig sealed his fate on Saturday when he counted a premature start penalty (OCS) in the afternoon race but neverthless a final race win today moved him to sixth overall.

If the SB3 is the most popular class then it has most likely been at the cost of the Dublin Bay Dragon fleet where weekend numbers did not make double figures. Rick Johnson sailing Diva continued his recent Dublin Bay form beating Andrew Craig's Chimaera who finished second and Peter Bowring's Phantom in third.

The National Yacht Club's John Lavery was the clear winner (three race wins) of the Flying fifteens where a dozen boats sailed. It was Northern Ireland travellers Andy Martin in second and Brian McKee third in a fleet otherwise made up from the local Dublin Bay class. It was disappointing turnout in some respects because the local fleet numbers almost 30 boats and the Baily Bowl doubled as a class championship.

In preparation for next month's British and Irish Squib Championships at the same venue the Royal St. George's Vincent Delany took a well earned win with three race wins in his final tally. Peter Wallace sailing Toys for the Boys was second and Lola (Frank Whelan) was third.

Frank Whelan's Lola from Dublin Bay leads the 13-boat Squib champs in Kinsale. The results are here and event photos here. 

The Irish South Coast Squib Championship sponsored by Marine Motors Matthews of Cork, & Calco Ireland Ltd. takes place in Kinsale Yacht Club, in conjunction with the National Squib Owners Association, from Saturday 1st May to Sunday 2nd May with Monday 3rd May held as a reserve day.

Principal Race Officer is John Stallard accompanied by Bruce Matthews and his boat Anerika.

Races will be sailed in the waters outside Kinsale Harbour between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Sovereign Islands and the courses shall be Windward-Leeward with a maximum of 4 races per day.

Kinsale Squib Class Vice Captain, Neil J Prenderville is expecting a large turnout, with 6 entries confirmed already from the Dublin Bay Fleets, as the Class gears up for the The Squib National Championships 2010 to be held at the Royal St George Yacht Club in June.