Mountainous swell tests all

Sailing - GP14 Worlds: After high winds forced the cancellation of the opening day of the Fáilte Ireland GP14 World Championship at Sligo Yacht Club on Sunday, the 130-boat fleet finally put to sea yesterday afternoon as Ireland's summer resumed normal service.

Not that yesterday was easy, and several boats opted to return to SYC's gleaming new clubhouse rather than risk damage in the melee that followed.

Any comparison to the past two months of sailing conditions were quickly dismissed by the 20-plus knot sou'west wind that kicked up a mountainous swell off Rosses Point, that in turn took its toll in the pre-qualification series.

Nevertheless, principal race officer Gus Henry made good on his promise to get the event under way, and after two races, Britain's Trimpley Sailing Club duo Carl Jeffs and Jim Toothill lead the qualification series with a first and a third place.

Irish veteran and International class president Hugh Gill leads the host nation's charge and holds third overall. Moville Sailing Club's John and Donal McGuinness are in fourth place after their second race win.

But a steady stream of retirees made their way ashore. Among them, six dismastees plus several T-boned casualties.

All afloat were thoroughly soaked from the waves of rain-laden fronts, but exhilaration proved the winning emotion of the day thanks to the 10-15ft swells.

The forecasts is for conditions to ease, so the remainder of the five-race series pre-qualifier is likely to be completed.