Injured Smith slides as Mueller takes the lead

SAILINGSTANDINGS in the Brewin Dolphin Dragon Gold Cup were turned upside down yesterday as the second of six races was completed off the Old Head of Kinsale with a new overall leader and improved hopes for a strong Irish result by Friday's finish.

Reigning world champion Lawrie Smith, a 1992 British Olympic medallist and former Whitbread Round the World Race skipper sailing this week for his adoptive Glandore Harbour Sailing, suffered a setback for his Gold Cup prospects after an injury sustained in Sunday’s strong conditions worsened yesterday.

The opening race was sailed in fresh southerly winds and a large seaway in which he suffered a twisted knee. Despite this, Smith won the opening race.

However, yesterday’s weather was only marginally easier and also worsened during the afternoon, exacerbating the injury and along with crew-mates Tim Tavinor and Joost Houweling, he finished 18th of 60 boats to lie seventh overall.

Former world champion and 2002 Gold Cup winner Tommy Mueller of Germany dominated the gruelling three-hour race and won with seeming ease to take over the lead from Smith.

But a fifth place for class maestro Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen, a double Olympic medallist and multiple Dragon class champion, puts the Dane in close second place on top of his second in Sunday’s opening.

Yesterday also saw Ireland’s Martin Byrne with Adam Winkelmann and Pedro Andrade from Portugal roar into life after a slightly disappointing 11th place on Sunday.

The trio, sailing for the Royal St George YC in Dun Laoghaire, were lying third but a port and starboard incident saw them take a penalty turn during the first lap of the course. This delay dropped them back to 12th place but they staged an impressive recovery to fourth place by the finish and are fifth overall as the series reaches it’s mid-point this afternoon.

Meanwhile in the Corinthian competition, where pro sailors are banned, Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Cameron Good slipped from the overall lead after his opening race seventh place. A 19th yesterday with Simon Furney and Henry Kingston saw the local trio drop to 13th overall and second Corinthian crew behind Germany’s Reemt Reemstsma.

Racing today has a similar forecast to yesterday but wind strength increased beyond expectations to reach 28 knots late in the race when waves increased to rival Sunday’s spectacular surfing conditions.

But minutes after racing ended, the wind eased and switched direction by almost 180 degrees, neatly allowing race officer Alan Crosbie to complete a near perfect course for the day.

“Kinsale is showing it’s true colours at the moment, a nice big open bay, rolling seas, as far as Dragon sailing goes it’s as good as it gets,” commented James Matthews, one of the local crews taking part.