Displaying items by tag: Spring Chicken Series

2nd February 2023

Sailing Instructions Issue for DBSC Spring Chicken Series This Sunday on Dublin Bay

This Sunday's AIB-sponsored DBSC Spring Chicken Series from Dun Laoghaire Harbour will take place at the National Yacht Club.

From February 5 to March 12 (first gun 10:10), six races will be run using a progressive handicap on a case-by-case basis in the AIB sponsored event.

The Sailing Instructions are downloadable below

Fifty boats participated in the 2022 Series, and organisers anticipate a similar fleet this Sunday.

One-designs, cruisers, and other boats that don't often compete in races are all "quite welcome," according to DBSC.

After the sailing, the National Yacht Club will generously organise prize draws, meals, and other events.

The €60 entry fee includes temporary memberships in the DBSC and the NYC.

Published in DBSC

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2nd March 2022

J109 'Dear Prudence' Leads Overall in DBSC Spring Chicken Series

After two races sailed at the AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Turkey Shoot Series, the J109 Dear Prudence leads overall by three points from the 1720 sportsboat Conor K.

Lying third overall in the 50-boat fleet is DBSC's best-performing yacht on handicap over the last two seasons, the Royal St. George J/97 Windjammer jointly skippered by Lindsay Casey and Denis Power.

Breezy conditions last Sunday meant a reduced fleet of mixed cruisers for the windward-leeward course in Seapoint Bay as reported here.

Results are downloadable below.

Racing continues each Sunday at 10.10 am until 13th March 2022 inclusive.

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19th February 2022

Third Race of DBSC Spring Chicken Series is Cancelled Due to Forecast

There's no surprise that DBSC organisers have moved to cancel Sunday's third race of its AIB Spring Chicken Series due to a strong wind warning.

Fintan Cairns told competitors this morning "regrettably, having looked at all forecasts for tomorrow, it is obvious that we will be unable to get sailing with strong winds and even stronger gusts".

Gusts of up to 45 mph from the west are forecast for the start time on Dublin Bay.

The first race of the series on February 6th was also cancelled due to strong winds. Racing got underway last weekend (February 13th) with a 1720 sportsboat finishing on top of the 50-boat mixed cruiser fleet.

Racing continues each Sunday at 10.10 am until 13th March 2022 inclusive.

Published in DBSC

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6th February 2022

High Winds Cancel First Race of DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay

Despite holding out until just a couple of hours before this morning's First Gun, Dublin Bay Sailing Club was forced to cancel its first race of 2022.

A six-race AIB sponsored DBSC Spring Chicken Series was due to start this morning off Dun Laoghaire Harbour at 10.10 hours.

A 50-boat mixed cruiser-racer fleet has assembled for the series following on from a highly successful edition of the 70-boat Turkey Shoot Series before Christmas.

Although a deceptively flat sea state on Dublin Bay appears 'sailable' (see live webcams here), strong offshore winds are gusting to over 30-knots forcing DBSC organiser Fintan Cairns to hoist the cancellation flags at 8 am.

The cancellation adds to the earlier scrubbing of the DMYC Dinghy Frostbites scheduled for this afternoon at the same venue. On the South coast, the first race of Kinsale Yacht Club's dinghy league in West Cork has also been scrapped due to the forecast.

Published in DBSC

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3rd February 2022

Fleet of Over 50 Expected for First Race of DBSC Spring Chicken Series

Dublin Bay race organiser Fintan Cairns expects a fleet of over 50 (with 48 to date) for what could yet be a very breezy first race of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Spring Chicken Series at the National Yacht Club this Sunday.

Racing for a mixed cruiser-racer fleet will continue each Sunday at 10.10 am until 13th March 2022 inclusive.

Among the fleet already entered is a number of sportsboats including the regular 1720s, J80s as well as the league's first SB20 entry.

Also racing are at least two Sunfast 3600s and as regular Afloat readers will know, these Jeanneau skippers have already been out practising on the bay this month.

Cairns issued sailing instructions for the AIB sponsored short and sharp, six-race series yesterday in anticipation of a breezy start to 2022 proceedings with westerly winds currently forecast to gust to 50 knots at race time.

Download sailing instructions below

Starts and handicaps will be issued shortly.

XC Weather forecast

Published in DBSC

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13th January 2022

Notice of Race for 2022 DBSC Spring Chicken Series

Dublin Bay Sailing Club has published the Notice of Race for its 2022 Spring Chicken series.

Six races will be held on Sunday mornings from 6 February to 13 March (first gun 1010 hrs), using a progressive handicap on a time-to-time basis.

Cruisers, cruising boats, one-designs and boats that do not normally race are “very welcome”, DBSC adds. And after the sailing, prize draws, food and more will be kindly hosted by the National Yacht Club.

The entry fee is €60 which includes temporary membership of DBSC and the NYC. Entries can be made online at dbsc.ie.

Anyone experiencing issues with their entries is invited to contact Chris Moore, Hon Sec at 087 7626976 or Fintan Cairns at 087 2439208.

Sailing instructions will be available on Sunday 6 February and will be emailed to entrants beforehand.

DBSC advises that the last date for entries is Wednesday 2 February, and warns that handicaps of late entries will be adjusted accordingly.

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15th March 2020

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Spring Chicken Series is Postponed

Racing in the DBSC Spring Chicken Series

Next week's final race of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Citroen South Spring Chicken Series and prizegiving have been postponed until September and it will be 'reviewed' at that time.

The decision for the National Yacht Club hosted event comes in the wake of this weekend's Coronavirus emergency measures.

DBSC's Summer season is scheduled for this April. First Race dates as follows: Saturday, April 25; Tuesday, April 28; Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

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4th February 2020

Sunfast 3600 'Hot Cookie' Takes Early Lead in Spring Chicken Series

The John O'Gorman skippered Sunfast 3600 'Hot Cookie' leads the DBSC Spring Chicken Series

John O'Gorman's Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie from the National Yacht Club was the winner of the first race of Dublin Bay Sailing Club's 2020 Spring Chicken Series.

19 cruisers raced in a blustery first race with 17 finishers on Sunday morning as Afloat reported here.

The J97 Windjammer and the J109 Dear Prudence were scored joint second on the Seapoint course in the west of the Bay with Liam Shanahan's J109 Ruth in this place.

Download full results in the Citroen South Series below.

The series continues next Sunday from the National Yacht Club.

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2nd February 2020

DMYC Frostbite Dinghy Frostbites Fall Victim to February Gale

Despite the flat seas winds are gusting to over 30 knots on Dublin Bay today.

This afternoon's DMYC Frostbite Series racing for dinghies at Dun Laoghaire Harbour has been cancelled due to adverse weather with gusts in excess of 30 knots on Dublin Bay.

Gale force winds are predicted for the Irish Sea later today.

See live Dublin Bay webcam here

This morning's first race of the DBSC Spring Chicken Series did go ahead in the comparatively sheltered waters of Seapoint Bay.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

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3rd February 2019

DBSC Spring Chicken Series Underway on Dublin Bay

The Royal St. George Yacht Club J80 'Rationel' is part of the 2019 DBSC Spring Chicken fleet

This morning's DBSC Spring Chicken Series got off to a gentle start in light to medium westerlies on Dublin Bay for the 38-plus boat fleet.

The regular mix of contestants were joined by Iduna, an 80–year–old Lymington L Class design. Viking Marine are prize sponsors again this year and 'Vicky Marine' (pictured below) is not shelling out crystal or silver prizes, but the very useful Dexshell range of hats and gloves to keep winners extremities warm. See the full range from Viking Marine here

See the starting order and initial handicaps for the first race below.

spring chicken vicky marine (Top) New vessel 'Vicky Marine' sets sail for the Spring Chicken Series and (above) some of the Series prizes on offer from Viking Marine

Race two of the National Yacht Club hosted six-race event sponsored by Citroen South Dublin takes place next Sunday.

Published in DBSC

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About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth