The weather gods certainty decided to be kind to Schull today for the second day of Calves Week, by providing a sun-filled summers day with a steady 15 knots of a warm westerly wind, and a long inter-island interesting course from race officer Alan Crosbie writes Michael Murphy.
Once again all the fleets started with a beat-up Long Island sound, much to the delight of the throngs of spectators who had a spectacular close up view of the activities on the water.
In IRC 0/1 it was the turn of Brian Jones in “Jelly Baby” to win both handicap divisions followed home in second IRC by Paul O Higgin's in “Rockabill VI” and local Schull boat “Growler” sailed by Gabby Hogan in Echo.
"All the fleets started with a beat-up Long Island sound, much to the delight of the throngs of spectators"
In class two it was back to winning ways for Frank Desmond and the crew of “Bad Company”, following yesterday’s retiral, to clinch victory in both IRC and Echo, ahead of Johnny Swan's “Harmony” in IRC and George Radley’s “Cortegada” in Echo.
Johnny Swan's “Harmony” from Howth Photo: Bob Bateman
Class three IRC produced the same results as yesterday, with David Buckley’s “Jaguar” followed home by the “Muskateer” crew from Cobh and Dan O Donovan’s “Second Count”.
In Echo, it was a first for the second named “Growler” in the fleet sailed by Diarmuid Dineen from Tralee, ahead of the Dwyer family sailing local boat “Sally In Stitches”
Class four IRC reversed yesterdays placing with the Murphy family in “Shelly D” snatching victory from Rob O Reily’s “Bonjourno”, with Simon Nelson in “Witchcraft winning Echo from Paul Taylor’s “Sea Psalm”.
White Sail One IRC saw Aiden Heffernan sail “Indulgence to victor, from Tom Mc Carthy’s “Bateleur” who was second in IRC and first in Echo. A new boat “Prince Of Tides” on its maiden visit to Schull. scored second in Echo for owner Frank Caul, with local sailor John Molloy on the helm.
Dan Buckley's “Zeezwan was a clear winner in White Sail Two, from John and Fiona Murphy’s “Esme”.
Tomorrows Fastnet Race is now scheduled to go ahead, following an improved weather forecast.
Results are here
