Freya off to mighty start at Calves Week

SAILING: A soft day marked the opening race at Cork Dry Gin Calves Week yesterday and with it, light to moderate winds and thundery rain just as racing ended.

Despite the weather, the 76-strong fleet enjoyed a full race over three hours around the Calves and Amelia Buoy three times.

Under the ECHO handicap system results, Infinity like Conor Doyle’s Freya from Kinsale set a high bar for themselves, placing second and first respectively in Class 1.

Under this handicap system, a good performance one day needs a better performance the next to deliver the same result.

By contrast, Freya also won her class on the IRC handicap system, also in use at the event.

Derek Dillon’s Big Deal from Foynes Sailing Club opened his series with a first in ECHO and a second place in IRC yesterday amongst the 15-strong Class 2 fleet.

This division has the largest turn-out matched only by the White Sails 2 class where Hugh O’Donnell’s Aoife leads after day one but is being challenged by fellow Schull Harbour Sailing Club-mate Peter Morehead on Giggles.

While IRC-handicapping is available to the white sails entries, most opt to race solely under ECHO but also have strict rules barring use of spinnakers and sail changes to boost participation.