Dublin Bay Sailing Club Spring Chicken 2010 - Race 4

Muglins, Dublin Bay (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland)

 

Following overnight snow flurries, Race 4 of Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Spring Chicken 2010 was keenly contested on a chilly Sunday morning, 21st February. Nowhere was the enthusiasm of the participants more evident than at the start, particularly amongst the tightly packed J109 entrants. Orna - IRL 532, NYC (Grand Soleil 40), stayed clear of trouble and started at the pin end of the line. After making steady progress in the initial windward leg, Orna was uncatchable downwind under spinnaker and rounded Muglins with only Just Jasmin - IRL 3506, DMYC, SHSC (Bavaria Match 35) ahead. Orna completed its dominance in the final windward leg and grabbed Line Honours at the finish outside Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Congrats to Moonfish - IRL 3107 (Beneteau Oceanis 411) Race 4 winner on corrected time and to Pippa IV - IRL 4281 (Sigma 33) now lying 1st overall in the event.

Race 4 Photo Gallery HERE

Cape Town is First Stopover Port for Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012

The racetrack for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race, due to start from Alicante in Spain in autumn 2011, is now set and the first port of call will once again be Cape Town, South Africa. This marks the beginning of the port announcement process for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012. The rest of the course will be revealed before the end of March. Over 80 bids from ports around the world, including Galway, want to host the event.

Leg 1 at 6,500 nautical miles, which in 2008-2009 took the eventual race winner Ericsson 4 almost 22 days to complete, is one of the longest in the race and historically the team that wins this leg has gone on to claim the winner's trophy.

The European ports of call for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2012, including the finish port, will be the next to be announced and the entire route is set to be revealed before the end of March.

Update 26 Feb 2010: A press release will be issued at 1200 GMT/1300 CET on 01 March and 1100GMT/1200 CET on 03 March.

Furl Her On The Which?

Furling the jib, Miss Scarlett - IRL 4763 (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland)

 

Furling the jib on Miss Scarlett - IRL 4763 (Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3),  a scene from Race 4, Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Spring Chicken 2010 on Sunday 21 February.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Spring Chicken 2010 - Race 3

Amid Ships, Dublin Bay Sailing (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland)

 

Mother nature continued to smile on Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Spring Chicken 2010 series. Race 3 was held on Sunday 14 Feb 2010 in perfect conditions as we reached the halfway mark of the series.
This week's race was sailed over a new and longer course which provided plenty of technical challenges and additional enjoyment in equal measure. To the delight of early strollers turned spectators on East Pier, Dun Laoghaire, the fleet sailed close to the harbour mouth after rounding the leeward mark at the end of each lap.

For Miss Scarlett - IRL 4763, which clearly loves to win, it was business as usual as St. Valentine presented the crew with Line Honours for the second consecutive week! The crew's chances had certainly been bolstered by the addition of two new crew members for the occasion. One of them must certainly be in the running for the title of 'Youngest Spring Chicken' in the history of the event!?

Race 3 winner under Echo Handicap was Pippa IV - IRL 4281 (Sigma 33). After three races, Team Windmill - IRL 8088, RStGYC (J109) lies in overall 1st place after a masterful performance this week.


Race 3 Photo Gallery HERE

Alinghi 0 - BMW Oracle Racing 2

Bending the wind with a revolutionary wing sail in the 33rd America's Cup - follow the story of BMW ORACLE Racing's victory HERE.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Spring Chicken 2010 - Race 2

Just Jasmin - IRL 3506 (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland)

Race 2 took place on schedule on Sunday 07 Feb 2010. True to his word DBSC Spring Chicken 2010 race organiser Fintan Cairns included a long beat to the Muglins in a change of course this week with both the start and finish lines at Scotsman's Bay.
 

Line honours went to Miss Scarlett - IRL 4763 (Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3) and crew, followed closely all the way from start to finish by Just Jasmin - IRL 3506, DMYC, SHSC (Bavaria 35 Match). 1st this week under Echo Handicap was Aoife M - IRL 7130 (Beneteau First 31.7).

Race 2 Photo Gallery HERE

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Spring Chicken 2010 - Race 1

Spinnakers Set (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland)

 

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's ever popular Spring Chicken series is back. Perfect weather conditions prevailed as the first race got under way on Sunday 31 January 2010 on a course laid to provide plenty of action for everyone.

Line honours went to in form Another Adventure - IRL 3511 (Archambault A35) while Legally Blonde - IRL 3175 (Beneteau First 31.7) claimed 1st place under Echo Handicap rules.

Race 1 Photo Gallery HERE.