In the performance of the Calves Week regatta so far, Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera from Greystones Sailing Club took her third win of the week in the 13-boat class Zero/One class, this time in the event's Fastnet race on the penultimate day of racing writes Bob Bateman. Second to Eleuthera in IRC overall is the Royal St George Yacht Club J/109 Dear Prudence (Patrick Cruise O'Brien). Third overall is Black Velvet, the First 34.7 skippered by Calves Week regular Leslie Parnell of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.
There were superb conditions for the race with a westerly breeze with sunshine greeting the sixty-one starters. A short beat across the Harbour, a turn to port to bring the fleets on to a reach with some of the brave hearts trying spinnakers to another mark out the harbour which brought the various fleets on to a beat up the sound. All but Whitesail two took in Goat Island before heading for the Rock.
Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera from Greystones Sailing Club
Class one continued around Cape Clear Island while the remainder of the classes returned to the Harbour via a variety of race marks and Inner islands. This resulted in the majority of yachts finishing close together on the inner harbour line much to the delight of the many holidaymakers watching from the shore.
George Radley's Half Tonner Cortegada from Great Island Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman
In a nine-boat Class Two fleet, the Sunfast 32 Bad Company (Frank Desmond) of Royal Cork Yacht Club leads overall from clubmate Kieran Collins in the Olson 30 Coracle VI. Third is George Radley's Half Tonner Cortegada from Great Island Sailing Club.
In Class Three IRC, Dan O'Donovan's Seconds Count from Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club leads Billy Burke's Sigma 33 Musketeer. Third from five starters is Padraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon from Kinsale Yacht Club.
Full results are here
