Inis Mór closing in on overall honours

The first finishers in the 704-mile Round Ireland Race could reach the Wicklow Sailing Club finishing-line as early as this evening, provided winds on the Irish Sea remain steady.

The 36-boat fleet departed the East Coast port on Sunday afternoon, but progress has been hampered by light winds and the four-year old course record will be unbroken this year.

Former Irish Volvo Ocean Race entry Green Dragon was at the front of the fleet as it passed Malin Head last night heading for Rathlin Island, the turn towards the final approach down the Irish Sea.

While the 70-foot ocean racer is the favourite for line honours, the race is decided on IRC handicap time that will favour a smaller boat in the light conditions.

Winner from 2010, Tonnerre de Breskens from Holland, is vying to retain the title, but French entry Inis Mór, that has customarily declared for Clifden Boat Club in keeping with a tradition established by its skipper Bernard Gouy, continued to lead overall last night.

Tonnerre retained a provisional podium placing though, and was also occupied with a match race against Dun Laoghaire entry Lee Overlay Partners as the duo passed Aranmore Island off Donegal.

Along with Green Dragon just 15 miles ahead, their timing at the notorious Rathlin Island tidal gate could prove crucial to their chances: an adverse tide in light winds means anchoring while the fleet behind gains.

Or a favourable tide could mean grabbing an advantage while the chasing pack get caught by the tide and in turn are detained to avoid being pushed backwards.

Although Green Dragon could arrive in Wicklow as early as this evening, the overall winner is unlikely to be clear until the smaller boats reach the east coast and the handicap times are calculated. Depending on the win, it could be Saturday by the time results are officially known.