One of the largest one-design fleets in Dublin Bay Sailing Club, the Flying Fifteens, gathered at the end of November in the Royal St. George Yacht Club to mark the close of the 2022 season. In contrast to the previous two seasons, a full schedule of racing had been provided by DBSC with a season that ran from the last Thursday in April to the first Saturday in October. Over four further weekends in October and November, Keith Poole and a varying group of volunteers provided Frostbite racing for the fleet that got up to eleven boats on the water and was marked by the turnout of Lee Statham and Andy Paul from Dunmore East who contested every race apart from the penultimate race when the outhaul on their main broke before the start.
Halfway through the Frostbite Series, we were all stunned by the sudden passing of Ben Mulligan, As Good as It Gets 3688 and Enfant de Marie 4081, in the last week of October and the passing of Ciaran Crummey earlier in the season.
The Royal Irish has had a Flying Fifteen join its numbers late in the season (Phil Lawton), but he was not in attendance but the other three clubs, Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, the Royal St George, and the National Yacht Club, had good turnouts.
The 2022 Class Captain, Jill Fleming, ably assisted by Ronan Beirne, opened the prize-giving after dinner by noting the activities of the fleet over the summer, making specific reference to the Dalkey Race, held in late summer, our involvement in the Women on the Water Regatta where Ciara Mulvey had enjoyed success, the Captain’s Prize, the travelling contingent that supported our provincial events in Connemara, Whitehead, Dunmore East and a lively Lough Derg at the close of the season. Special mention was given to John Lavery and Alan Green who contested the Europeans in Hayling Island and a number of other UK-based events. We also enjoyed a healthy turnout at the Nationals hosted in Dun Laoghaire. She also acknowledged the Class prize-winners at the DBSC prize-giving, Neil Colin and Margaret Casey, David Gorman and Michael Huang and ben Mulligan (R.I.P.) and Cormac Bradley.
The principal prize-winners on the night were as follows;
Scroll down for a prizegiving gallery of images
Saturday Series: David Gorman & Michael Huang/Chris Doorly; Fomo, 4099
Thursday Series: Neil Colin & Margaret Casey; Fuzzy, 4028
Saturday Silver Fleet: Tom Murphy & Carel le Roux; Fflagella, 4057
Most Improved Boat: Alastair Court & Conor O’Leary; Ffinisterre, 3753
Travellers’ Trophy: John Lavery and Alan Green; Phoenix, 4083
Endeavour Trophy: Joe Coughlan & Andrew Marshall; Ash, 3913
Overall Thursday Crew: Margaret Casey; Fuzzy, 4028
Overall Saturday Crew: Cormac Bradley; Enfant de Marie 4081
Fleet Prizes:
Gold Fleet
1. Ben Mulligan & Cormac Bradley – Enfant de Marie, 4081
2. Neil Colin & Margaret Casey – Fuzzy, 4028
3. Keith Poole & Tom Galvin – Mike Wazowski, 4093
Silver Fleet
1. Tom Murphy & Carel le Roux – Fflagella, 4057
2. Alastair Court & Conor O’Leary – Ffinisterre, 3753
3. Adrian Cooper & Joe McNamara – Rockafellas, 3896
Bronze Fleet
1. Joe Coughlan & Andrew Marshall – Ash, 3913
2. John O’Sullivan & Pat Kiersey – Rhubarb, 3762
3. Mick Quinn & MaryJayne Mulligan – MAXV, 3960
As he collected the last trophy to be presented on the evening, the Heineken Plate for winning the Gold Fleet overall with Ben Mulligan, Cormac Bradley was prompted from the floor to say a few words. He noted that Ben would have really enjoyed the evening and getting the acclaim from his peers for a very successful season. We would all miss him at evenings such as this, in chance conversations over the winter but most especially at the start of the next summer season. Sail on, Ben, I hope you find the star by which you chart your further onward passage!
Flying Fifteen Prizegiving Photography by Frank Miller
Neil Colin (L) and Margaret Casey (R), All Season Thursday DBSC Flying Fifteen Winners, Ross Doyle Tankard
Alan Green with the DBSC Flying Fifteen DAF Trophy (for most distance travelled – with John Lavery)
Margaret Casey with the Frank Burns Trophy for Best Crew Overall in the DBSC Flying Fifteen Thursday Series
Cormac Bradley with the Godkin Trophy for Best Crew Overall in the DBSC Flying Fifteen Saturday Series
Conor O’Leary (L) and Alastair Court, Most Improved, DBSC Flying Fifteen Neophyte Trophy
Pat Kiersey (L) & john O’Sullivan (R), 2nd Overall Bronze Fleet in the DBSC Flying Fifteens
Mick Quinn, (and MaryJayne Mulligan), 3rd Overall Bronze Fleet of the DBSC Flying Fifteens, with Jill Fleming
Adrian Cooper (L) & Joe McNamara (R), 3rd Overall Silver Fleet of the DBSC Flying Fifteens
Joe Coughlan (L), Jill Fleming and Andrew Marshall (R), Endeavour Trophy (Dalkey Race) & 1st Overall Bronze Fleet, Hellgate Trophy in the DBSC Flying Fifteens
Conor O’Leary (L) and Alistair Court (R), Second Overall Silver Fleet in the DBSC Flying Fifteens
Keith Poole (L) and Tom Galvin (R), 3rd Overall Gold Fleet in the DBSC Flying Fifteens
Tom Murphy (R) with Adrian Cooper, Saturday Silver Fleet, Halfway Mug (donated by the Cooper family) & 1st Overall Silver Fleet in the DBSC Flying Fifteens
Neil Colin and Margaret Casey, 2nd Overall Gold Fleet in the DBSC Flying Fifteens
2023 Class Captain Robin Hilliard and his deputy/crew/daughter, Dascha, make a presentation to outgoing Class Captain (2022) Jill Fleming
Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen stalwart and crew to Jill Fleming in recent seasons, Frank Burgess, makes a presentation to Jill
