Sonatas in Dublin Bay

The Sonata scene in The Republic of Ireland has been growing in recent years and is based at the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club in Dublin Bay. We sail in Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), which comprises four separate yacht clubs. These are: DunLaoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) Royal St George Yacht Club (RstGYC) National Yacht Club (NYC).

Racing is on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, usually 1 1/2 to 2 hours and on Saturdays, usually 3 to 3 1/2 hours. The racing season commences in mid April and runs until mid September. DunLaoghaire Motor Yacht Club, runs a September series on Sunday mornings which takes us up to mid October. After that it is lift out time!

As well as the DBSC series there are various other ‘one-off races’, including a regatta for each club and The Kish Race, which is a race to and from the Kish Light situated 8 miles offshore on a sand bank—big swells when rounding! The East Coast Championships, hosted by each club in annual rotation, attract boats from the entire East coast.

The Fleet

We currently have 7 sonatas (and one modified sonata which has diamonds at the top of her mast). The sonatas are Gizmo (ex Steve Goacher first boat), Ceol na mara, Astrix (formally Bad Company) Entertainer Too, Jabaru (ex Mike Hart's National Championship boat), Gladiator and Variangene.

Developments

DunLaoghaire is just about to commence construction of a new 600 boat marina. This should extend the racing year and attract more boats.

Contact

For more information contact Saundra Hattley, Sailing Secretary DLMYC and Sonata Association Area Rep.