Race fleet is becalmed after Saturday start from Wicklow

IT was the skipper of NCB Ireland, in the round the world race, who coined the expression "parking lots" to describe the calm of the doldrums.

Joe English will need that experience for his latest adventure along with the rest of the 56 boat fleet in the Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland, for all were "parked" in windless conditions off West Cork last night.

It's hardly the riveting sailing the 704 mile race is known for. At least the light weather has allowed all the entrants to get beyond the Fastnet Rock lighthouse without the equipment failures that so often beset up to a third of the fleet in the first 36 hours.

Nevertheless, light airs racing can be equally as challenging, if not simply to stave off the boredom of waiting for wind. Real obstacles such as mile long illegal fishing nets and tidal gates still lie ahead. And beating rival boats relies on searching for tiny zephyrs of breeze to gain that winning tenth of a knot of extra boatspeed.

Timing is crucial. Hit the notorious gate at Rathlin Island with the ebb tide, and it's a clean sweep southwards down the Irish Sea to the finish at Wicklow. But to hit Rathlin against a flooding tide in light winds means anchoring for up to five hours to avoid being swept backwards. That means the yachts behind have a chance to catch up, and the race starts over.

So the 1990 record of 84 hours and 57 minutes looks likely to stand for this year at least. A more pressing matter of supplies and rationing will be of greater concern to the 600 or more sailors if the breezeless conditions last.

Steve Hayles, the navigator on Silk, a leading 41 footer said: "We have supplies to last until Wednesday midnight. We need to finish early on Thursday or we'll be a very hungry crew when we reach Wicklow."