Irish fourth in 1720 Europeans

After a day shortened to just one race due to the lack of breeze on Thursday, the fleet racing for the Cork 1720 European Championship on the Clyde off Largs found no shortage of wind yesterday as squally gusts to 30 knots taxed boat handling skills to a maximum.

The crew which proved strongest and slickest were Hamble based 18 foot skiff sailors Rob and Pete Greenhalgh whose big winds skills on the high speed overcanvassed skiffs stood them in good stead as they scored three wins from the four races contested. They have built a 6.5 points lead going in to the last three races which are scheduled today.

G&T made their most regular gains downwind and were comfortably clear in each victory.

Irish crews made a better impression on the overall leaderboard after yesterday's four heats. Des Faherty's Aquatack, the Howth based 2002 European Championship winning boat had a consistent day in the strong winds scoring a third and a second to move up to seventh overall, while Paul Reilly's Wet & Black, also from Howth, took a 2,4,7,8 for the day to lie fourth overall - the top Irish boat.