The early part of the race saw a tussle for first among Paddy Dillon (131 Wild Wind), Jonathan O'Rourke (77 Tiller Girl) and Enda Weldon (186 MyDi). Dillon took the wrong line on the run (5th of 9 legs) and saw his early lead slim down as O'Rourke came chasing. Jim Dempsey (183 Wannago), Shay O'Toole (182 Dolphin) and Enda Weldon (186) were hot on their heals. Be the end of the next beat, O'Rourke had grabbed first position, followed closely by Dempsey, Dillon and O'Toole.
The next three legs saw further sorting out. Ross Galbraith (185 The Message) retired with rigging damage. At the beginning of the last beat the order was O'Rourke, Dillon, Dempsey, O'Toole, Weldon and Anthony Carthy in 188 Innocence.
More place swapping on the last beat with Dempsey (183 Wannago) getting the gun followed by O'Rourke (77 Tiller Girl), Dillon (131 Wild Wind), A.Carthy (188 Innocence), S.O'Toole (182 Dolphin) in 5th.
Overall 183 Wannago is in the lead with 5 points, 131 Wild Wind 2nd on 10 points, 123 Vee 3rd on 12 points, 188 Innocence 4th on 14 points and 182 Dolphin 5th on 19 points.
In the Daphne fleet (equivalent of silver fleet), Geraldine O'Neill in 73 Lively Lady has a commanding lead with 5 points, followed by Martin O'Toole in 179 Bean Adhmaid with 13 points and in third place Patrick Boardman in 26 Thumbalina with 14 points.
In the Designer fleet (bronze), thing are very close. Mark Boylan (177 This is It) at 6 points is in first place on equal points with Mark McCormack (54 Hycilla). Mark's father James McCormack (38 Syrena) is third with 9 points and Paddy Archer (18 Clare) is lying fourth, also on 9 points.
All the above is provisional, as there is likely to be some protests, protest time has just closed at time of writing. The Crew Race continues.
Further information on www.dublinbaymermaid.org/foynes2010