Second-placed Summerfly edges closer to Aoife

Spectacular conditions on Roaringwater Bay rewarded the 76 boats competing in Cork Dry Gin Calves Week yesterday as the race committee opted to bring forward the long race around the Fastnet lighthouse from today’s original schedule.

The race, which was delayed until lunchtime, was split between the smaller boats and white sails classes that were given a sprint to the famous rock off Cape Clear while the bigger boats were routed further via the Gascanane Sound before returning to the finish.

Amongst the early white sails finishers, Hugh O’Donnell on Aoife succeeded in defying the progressive ECHO handicap system with a well-earned fifth place yesterday to follow his win in Tuesday’s opening race.

However, he remains overall leader only on tie-break as fellow Schull Harbour Sailing Club entry, Summerfly, owned by Michael Hearn, has drawn level thanks to a second place yesterday.

In the white sails class 1, Kinsale’s John Dowling on Samba still leads after a sixth place yesterday, while Rob Rendell’s Phantom has pulled level.

Meanwhile, the IRC handicap series — that the event is also scored under — saw a four-way tie in Class 3.

Dan O’Donovan’s Seconds Count from Dungarvan is tied on six points with Billy Burke and Danny McCarthy’s Muskateer from Cobh SC, Gary Fort’s Jaguar from Tralee Bay SC and Jimmy Nyhan’s Outrigger from the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Amongst the bigger boats that were given the longer course, Colman Garvey’s True Penance from the RCYC edged ahead of Conor Doyle’s Kinsale entry Freya in Class 1 while Derek Dillon’s Foynes crew on Big Deal moved into first place in Class 2.