O'Driscoll in command with unbeaten run

SAILING:THREE WINS from three races gives Flor O'Driscoll's Hard on Port the overall lead in Cruisers III of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, and means the Royal St George sailor stays on target to retain the overall Volvo Trophy he won in 2009, the top prize in a combined fleet of 420.

O’Driscoll’s J24 notched up two more wins yesterday in his fleet of 38 boats, but conditions on the bay could hardly have been more conflicting.

Whatever Thursday’s opening rounds brought in terms of big seas and strong winds, the second day matched it but for completely different reasons.

Crews sat to leeward and spinnakers only barely filled. Regardless of course area – and there were nine from Sutton to Sandycove – the story was the same: light but steady northeasterlies of 4-6 knots and a strong flood tide.

It made for a long day afloat as the fleet approaches the half-way stage of the regatta.

Most of the 25 classes have sailed three races, but some, including dinghies and the smaller keelboats, have raced four.

Overall positions are taking shape but nett scores must wait until tomorrow before a discard applies, except for the SB3 class who have already sailed five.

Although Hard on Port holds the lead on three points, Dublin Bay’s Ken Lawless’ quarter-tonne Supernova is only three points adrift and a potent challenger.

The Dubois Starflash has already won class honours in June’s Lambay race and took overall honours in Dublin Bay SC’s first series this season.

In the 14-boat IRC Zero class Crazy Horse keeps her overall lead from Scotland’s Jamie McGarry. The Clyde Cruising Club’s Beneteau 40.7 is three points behind on seven. In third is fellow Scot Elf Too (Christina Murray) from Fairlie Yacht Club, Ayrshire, on 11.

Locals top the Class One IRC fleet too, with Paul Kirwan’s consistent showing of a fourth, fifth and seventh in the Sigma 38 Erislannan rewarded with the overall lead in the 18-boat fleet, two points clear of Scotland’s Carmen II, a Beneteau 36.7 skippered by Paul Scutt.

On the on- design courses, SB3 favourite Ben Duncan’s Sharkbait has bounced back from a disqualification in race four to be top of the leader board after five races. The Howth champions have a one-point margin over Kinsale’s Ronan Downing.

The British Wayfarer dinghy class is racing for National Championship honours as part of the regatta. There are 27 of the 16ft boats entered from all over Britain and Ireland. Some decided to travel here under their own steam rather than take the ferry. Ralph Roberts sailed his dinghy from Liverpool, though he did break the journey with a respite in Holyhead. The trip took 23 hours.