#calvesweek – Light conditions and poor visibility forced the temporary postponement of the first days racing at Cork Dry Gin Calves week today writes Claire Bateman. Race officer Neil Prendeville eventually managed to start all fleets on various courses taking in a windward mark in Long Island Bay and the Calves Islands.
The fickle south westerly wind proved a handful for all the competitors with the final boats taking almost five hours to complete the course.
In Class the the two largest boats Gloves Off and Jump Juice seemed to master the conditions and left the rest of the fleet trailing along way behind to take both IRC and ECHO in that order.
In Class Two the fleet was dominated by the Rohan/Travers "Per Elisa", that comfortably won both divisions, followed home by fellow quarter tonner Jason Losty's "Illes Piteuses".
In Class Three victory in both divisions went to Derek Dillon from Foynes Sailing Club with the Barrett/Conlon combination in Y-Knot filling second place.
Class four saw one of the closest finishes of the day with the first four boats crossing the line within fifteen seconds ofone another.Richard Hanley in "Saoirse" claimed the IRC trophy while local Schull boat "Witchcraft" sailed by Simon Nelson won ECHO.
The large White Sail classes had a tough day particularly on the downwind legs with Howth visitor "Sojourn" winning in both IRC and ECHO from Ciaran Geoghan's "Fizz" and Bryan Heffernan's, Aisling In White Sail Two Finbarr Butler's "Moonfleet"took the trophy from Jack Coggey's "Roaring Water.
Results here
