A drifting mark off the Old Head of Kinsale upset the opening day of the Sovereigns Cup yesterday where 101-boats have gathered to decide the biennial trophy event.

SUMMER sailing is over, but it’s a busy time for south coast sailors with Cove SC hosting the SCORA Championships and the RCYC hosting the ISA All Ireland championships this weekend while the weekend after that, the O’Flynn Exhams Autumn Regatta begin at Crosshaven.

DAVE DWYER’S marinerscove.ie led the Irish charge for the offshore race of the Rolex Commodores’ Cup in Cowes yesterday, winning Class 2 in the 180-mile race that lasted more than 24 hours.

A GAME of offshore snakes and ladders was underway in the English Channel last night as the fleet in the Rolex Commodores’ Cup negotiated their way along a 180-mile course that is expected to last up to 36 hours and finish sometime early this afternoon.

AS Cork Week enters its finale today, the traditional programme of races has been altered by yesterday’s near gale conditions off Roche’s Point.

DOMESTIC entries have held strong despite the economic downturn as Cork Week prepares to begin racing off Roche’s Point this morning. Irish boats account for more than half the official entry list in contrast to previous years when overseas boats would account for as much as 80% of the turnout.

HEAVY fog was a dampener, but it did not affect the final race in the Kevin O’Leary Nissan April League series at Kinsale YC and had no effect on the celebrations by the overall class winners.