Winds decide the winners

LIGHT winds were the ultimate decider of the 12 classes in the last race of Ford Cork Week off Crosshaven yesterday. As the biennial regatta broke up last night there was widespread praise for what, has been the biggest and one of the finest weeks of cruiser racer sailing in this country many years opening champagne when the rest of the 1720 fleet came ashore. Dix and the crew of Lemon did not have to sail the final windward leeward race to claim the 1720 title, the biggest gathering so far of these keel boats. A third placing was sufficient for Lemon to hold off the challenge of Joe English in Eko and John Crotty in Texoil, who finished second and third respectively in the 28 boat fleet.

The Contessa 33 Owl (Peter Bruce) was unable to hold back Simon Relph's increasing speed in class five, especially in the lighter airs, and Relph, with ISA champion, Ruan O Tiarnaigh on board, put in a fine performance over the round the cans course to take a staggering 15 minute lead over Owl in the delicate breeze to win overall from the 24 contestants.

The professionals racing in class zero were having a clinical battle for supremacy and, as expected, it was the Bashford Howison designs that filled the frame, with Silk 11, sailed by Gordon Maguire, holding her overnight, lead to win the series