Following Wednesday's Calves Week cancellation of racing due to severe weather, the five hundred plus crew members in the 73–boat fleet awoke yesterday to a blue sky and a fresh northwest breeze of 15 to 20 knots. Principle race officer Neil Prendeville set up his start line north of the Calve Islands, and succeeded in squeezing in two races for all six fleets using a windward mark off Long Island and then exploiting the scenic natural features of the western and middle Calves as marks on the course. See Bob Bateman's Calves Week Photo Gallery HERE.
In class 1, Paul O Higgins' new JPK 10.80 Rockabill with Mark Mansfield on the helm, continues to dominate the class with three wins in IRC after a tough battle with Connor Doyle's Freya, while holding off the new 36.7, Altair from Cove sailing club in echo.
In class 2, the Desmond/Ivers /Deasy, Bad Company still leads the class with a third and first in IRC ahead of Ernie Dillons Riojo, while in Echo Andrew Algeo from the home sailing club continues to lead overall ahead of Henry Hoggs Lisador from the Garrykennedy sailing club.
In class 3 IRC, the J 24 YaGottaWanna continues a very successful season with a first and second in IRC to stay marginally ahead of David Buckleys, Boojum from Tralee Sailing Club who continues to lead in Echo ahead of the Hunter 707 Hot Pants 3 from Howth.
Class 4 IRC continues to be an all Schull affair with the Kirby/Norris crewed Raffles swopping places with Michael Murphys Shelly D while in Echo a very popular local skipper Kevin Murray took one of the trophy’s in Echo.
In the white sail 1 IRC class Brian Heffernans Aisling with a first and second continues to lead the class ahead of Act Two from the Royal Irish, while also leading Echo ahead of his relation Aidan Heffernans Indulgence.
In class 2 WS Stephen Lysaght's decision to opt for white sail instead of class 2 appears to be paying off as he remains in close battle with fellow KYC member John O Regan in Main 4.
The final race of the series continues on Friday with the re scheduled Fastnet Race.