Dun Laoghaire's Flying Fifteen fleet mark the close of the 2022 Summer sailing season
by Cormac Bradley 22 Dec 2022 05:18 AEDT
Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen stalwart and crew to Jill Fleming in recent seasons, Frank Burgess, makes a presentation to Jill - Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen fleet prize-giving 2022 © DBSC
The largest one-design fleet in Dublin Bay Sailing Club, the Flying Fifteens, gathered at the end of November in the National 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 Crummy 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 which were 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.
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!
Principal prize-winners:
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
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