Flying Fifteens Enjoy a Stiff Breeze in a Crowded Dublin Bay

6th September 2021

File photo of Dublin Bay Flying Fifteen racing

With the spotlight on the ICRA Championship in Dublin Bay this weekend, normal Bay racing saw a fleet of 17 Flying Fifteens turn out for DBSC club racing in a stiff southeast breeze of c15 knots.

As this was the first outing after the Championship of Ireland last weekend at Strangford Lough Sailing Club, some boats were observed pre-launch attending to rig and setting modifications for the day's racing. With the cruiser fleet out in the bay and an Optimist championship in the West of the bay, the PRO Barry O'Neill set his windward-leeward course near Merrion mark in line with the twin Poolbeg chimneys. Easy to find in a Bay full of boats and conveniently advised on VHF by the DBSC flagship.

A square line saw the boats start a three-round race with some quickly opting for the right side to go towards the shore. At the weather mark, 4068 (Mulvin & Beirne) was around first followed by 4093 a brand new boat on its first Dublin Bay outing (Mathews & Poole), 4081 (Mulligan & Casey) and 3955 (Dumpleton & Hickey). On the downwind leg, some opted to gybe set with the boats going to the rights side and gybing later on the leg holding their own. With some changes in the positions of the leaders the finishers were 1st 4068 Mulvin & Beirne, 2nd Mathews & Poole & 3rd 4081 Mulligan & Casey.

For race two the PRO set a four-lap course with the committee boat moving to the end of the final beat and located in a position to shorten the tack home. The tide was now slack and about to flood so decisions on the upwind course. Again the leaders opted for the inshore course with 4057 (T Murphy & La Roux) leading 4008 (Coleman & Coleman) with 4081, 3955, 4093 & 4068 in the mix. On the downwind leg, those that opted for a gybe set on the downwind leg didn't seem to make any distance that those who opted for the late gybe. A gruelling last beat saw 4057 (T Murphy & Le Roux) get the gun followed by 3955 (Dumpleton & Hickey) & 4008 (The Coleman's). With a 1st & 4th, 4068 (Mulvin & Beirne) won the day by a point from 3955 (Dumpleton & Hickey).

The Dublin Bay Sailing Club PRO Barry O'Neill and his crew on "Freebird" and mark layers provided excellent racing on a day with much activity in the bay, and this was greatly enjoyed by Ireland's biggest one-design keelboat class.

Published in Flying Fifteen, DBSC

Published in Flying Fifteen

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