Tonnerre holds on-the-water lead

SAILING:AFTER 30 hours of racing in the Conway Media Round Ireland Race, the 37-boat fleet has stayed intact with no retirees but with a surprise leader for the unofficial on-the-water stakes.

Dutch entry Tonnerre de Breskens has held the lead since Wicklow Head, and, despite a deep dive southwards from the Tuskar Rock late on Sunday night, was in no danger of being over-taken last night.

Chief challenger for the line honours stakes, Rosslare Europort, as the largest racing boat in the fleet, had some ground still to gain having fared poorly in the headwinds since passing Rosslare.

“We’ve had an interesting first 30 hours,” commented crew-member Paul O’Riain.

“It was tough going down the East Coast as this boat is not happy in light airs.”

Conditions were expected to improve overnight, though the Dutch leader was almost 20 miles ahead when passing the Fastnet Rock yesterday evening.

Meanwhile, the race for the overall trophy decided on IRC handicap corrected time is being led by French skipper Bernad Gouy on his Clifden Boat Club entry Inis Mor.

The 39-footer was also holding second place on the water and ahead of Rosslare Europort.

In the two-handed race, Psipsina was calculated as the overall leader at the Tuskar Rock but, in a close contest, Team Daft comprising Mick Liddy and Mark Pollock, edged ahead last night.

The entire fleet is expected to have passed south of Cork by lunchtime today, and with fresher southerly winds due for the west coast, the first boats to complete the 704-mile course could reach Wicklow by the early hours of Thursday morning.

branigan@indigo.ie