Wow finds the puff to take lead in Euros

Although only one race was sailed yesterday before the breeze disappeared at the Old Pulteney 1720 European Championships on the Clyde off Largs, it was just enough for the Dublin Bay boat, Wow, to take the overall lead.

With Matt Howard calling the tactics for fellow British Finn helm, Charlie Cumbeley, Wow (owned by class chairman Conor Clarke) had worked through to third place, after using the first signs of a big wind shift to best effect at the top of the final round.

Wow’s third gave them a 2.75points lead over the Solent based Splash Test Dummies, steered by owner Andrew McLelland.

Although the weather forecasters were promising more than enough breeze to allow the day’s three scheduled races to be completed, by the second lap the wind had dropped and veered to west enough to cause a major headache for some of the leading tacticians.

There were no such problems for King Quick, Graeme and Ruairidh Scott’s far travelled Clyde-based boat.

The current Irish champions atoned for their modest first day on Wednesday - when they opened with a 12th and an 11th - by winning yesterday’s race comfortably and moving up to fifth place overall.

“We had a better day really but it could be a high scoring regatta.

“The start and the first leg is crucial because after that there are not many opportunities to pass,” explained helm Ruairidh Scott.