Howth yacht Rosie owned by Roy Dickson was the toast of Tarbert after topping the class 2 leaderboard after the first day of racing at the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series on a grey and overcast Loch Fyne
France's Lady Courrier ran away with the best points score of the red hot IRC Class 1 in brisk 12-18 knot south easterly winds which quickly despatched the early rain showers and even delivered the occasional shaft of sunlight.The French team which is skippered by Gery Trentesaux left the best of the Irish and the Scots race fleet trailing in conditions which are favoured by the series build First 45.
While Lady Courrier steadily found their pace in the first race which they won by 51 seconds, their upwind speed was devastating on the second race and they won against the recently crowned Irish national championship winning Marinerscove.ie by two clear minutes.
While some of the best of the Irish contingent, who are working up to represent their country at next month‚s Rolex Commodore's Cup, were left muttering under their breath about the French yacht's handicap, Marinerscove.ie, with Britain‚s 2000 Olympian Andy Beadsworth calling tactics for the Crosshaven, Cork crew which is lead by owner-helm David Dwyer ran out with two second places.
In third is the current Scottish Series Trophy holder Jump Juice, owned buy Cork's Conor Phelan which has Irish Star Olympian Mark Mansfield steering and local Tarbert ace Ruaraidh Scott on tactics.
"I still think the Irish will be favourites for the Commdore's Cup, Remarked Trentesaux, We had a couple of good races, and we have a very good crew. It is six years since we were here last time but the majority of the crew here have been with us for longer than that.
In IRC Class 2, which has 22 boats competing as compared with the 15 in IRC Class 1, it is the red hulled Rosie, a Corby 36, of Howth based Roy Dickson which won both races today. Rosie was second here last year and got the better of the English based Elan 410 Premier Flair, skippered by owner Jim Macgregor, in the first race. In the second contest Rosie, which has Trieste, Italy's Nevio Sabadin calling tactics for helm Nevin Smyth, finished on the same corrected time as Barry Cunningham's Contango, a Corby 33.
"We are going to be absolutely at the top of our game to win here, sailing 100% all the time.Said Rosie's sail trimmer Dave Nixon, „This is a very strong class." IRC Class 2 has five past Scottish Series Trophy winners among a tough line up.
Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, Tarbert Loch Fyne, Scotland. Day 1, Standings after 2 races IRC Class 1: 1 Lady Courrier (G Trenteseaux) 2pts, 2 Marinerscove.ie (D Dwyer) 4pts, 3 Jump Juice (C Phelan) 6pts, IRC Class 2: 1 Rosie (R Dickson) 2pts, 2 Contango (B Cunningham) 4pts, 3 Premier Flair (J MacGregor) 7pts, IRC Class 3: 1 Carmen II (Scutt/Jeffrey) 2pts, 2 Mumbo.ie (D Cronin) 4pts, 3 Bengal Magic (Moorehead/Ferres) 7pts, IRC Class 4: 1 Antix (J Allen) 3pts, 2 Shadowfax (B & S Fortieth) 6pts, 3 Molissa (P Atkinson) 6pts, Sigma 33, after 3 races : 1 Sigmatic (D Mclaren) 4pts, 2 Sea Pie of Cultra (J Colman) 8pts, 3 Blues (Milne/Hamilton) 9pts, Sonata: 1 Pied Piper (A Harper) 4pts, 2 Blue Tack (D Boatman) 7pts, 3 So (McLure/Stewart) 9pts, Sportsboat 1: 1 Tabula Rasa (C M Frize) 3pts, 2 Buddy 'Ell (C Frize) 6pts, 3 Yknot (Willis/Ellis) 11pts. Sportsboat Class 2: 1 Haggis (E Mackay) 3pts, 2 ASBOat (G White) 7pts, 3 Grouse (S Pender) 10pts.
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