Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta - Day 3
by Louay Habib 11 Jul 2009 19:44 BST
9-12 July 2009
Strong winds on day three of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta © David Branigan /
www.oceansport.ie
Full on foam up
The penultimate day of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and racing was delayed as Dublin Bay was shrouded in thick fog. Before long a stiff southerly breeze blew the mist away and there was a full on foam up, producing some exhilarating conditions.
In IRC Class Zero, the start saw Tim Costello’s Mills 43, Tiamat hit the line neck and neck with Alan Hoggs’, Mills 40, Argie Bargie. Richard Fildes, Corby 37, Impetuous nailed the pin end and got away smartly. By the first top mark, Tiamat was in the lead on the water but Argie Bargie were not far behind them. Peter Rutter’s Corby 36, Quokka 7 worked the angles well downwind, slick crew work meant they could gybe to use the shifts and stay out of the wind shadow of the large number of boats on the course. Argie Bargie won the race on corrected time but only by a mere four seconds from Quokka 7. Impetuous was only 23 seconds adrift of the winners. The result means that with one race remaining, the class title looks to be a two horse race between Argie Bargie and Quokka 7 who are now tied for first place with Impetuous dropping to third.
In IRC Class One, Debbie Aitken’s Elan 380, Animal, based at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club corrected out to win today’s race by just eight seconds from Paul O’Higgins, Corby 33, Rockabill V. However, this was enough to secure the overall class win for O’Higgins team, with a race to spare, but they will be looking to put in a good performance tomorrow. They still have a chance of lifting the overall title. Stephen Northmore’s A35, Waterjet, from the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth was third in today’s race and is second overall.
In Class IRC 2, John Murphy’s Corby 26, Kinetic posted two thirds today, assuring them of the class title at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Anthony Gore-Grimes X 302, Dux, had a great day at the office, scoring a bullet in the first race and a second in the last race of the day to put them into second place overall, in class. Brian Cusack’s Dick Dastardly picked up a second and a third today, to lie third overall.
In IRC Class Three, Flor O’Driscoll’s, J 24, Hard on Port is having an excellent regatta and currently tops the class but Ken Lawless’ Quarter Tonner, Supernova, is just two points behind in second with Vince Gaffney’s Howth based Albin Express, Alliance, in third.
One of the most spectacular classes today was in the dinghies, 25 Fireballs were ripping up the Dun Laoghaire coastline at speeds in excess of 15 knots. The class has seen something of a comeback in recent years and watching these pocket rockets skipping across the waves, you can see why. Andy Pearce and Adam Broughton from the UK are currently leading the class.
With one race sheduoled for tomorrow, Kinetic and Rockabill V are both now contenders for the overall regatta trophy, along with Shark Bait in the Laser SB3 class, all of whom have been supremely consistent in big fleets.
Full results and other information is available at www.dlregatta.org