Racing round the Fastnet Rock, eight kilometres of the County Cork coast, in light southwesterlies, was in stark contrast to Tuesday's strong wind opener for the 74-boat 2025 Calves Week Regatta fleet.
With two races completed, under Race Officer Alan Crosbie, the 43rd edition of the West Cork regatta reached its halfway mark on Wednesday afternoon, and some clear divisional leaders are already emerging as the racing returns to a round-the-cans format in Roaring Water Bay on Thursday morning.
Class Zero prepare to start the Calves Week Regatta Fastnet Race Photo: Bob Bateman
While the bulk of the six classes raced to the rock, the bigger yachts went on from the Fastnet to Cape Clear Island before a late afternoon finish in Schull Harbour.
Valentia's second IRC win, Rockabill VI tops ORC race
John Treanor's J 112e ValenTina on her way to the Fastnet Rock on day two of Calves Week 2025 Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
In a repeat of Tuesday's opening race, John Treanor's J112e ValenTina was the IRC Zero winner by over nine minutes (in a corrected time of three hours 50 minutes and 32 seconds) from Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80, Rockabill VI (3:59:25 corr). Third was Tim MacCarthy and Wan Waterman's J111, Joyride in a corrected time of 3:59:43.
On ECHO, Joyride scored the win from Valentina with Rockabill VI third.
Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80, Rockabill VI from Dublin Bay rounds the Fastnet Rock on day two of Calves Week 2025 Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
In what is being claimed as an Irish regatta first, ORC handicap 'shadow' results are published for Calves Week Classes Zero and One, along with IRC and ECHO scores.
Frank Whelan's canting keel Elliot 57s, Opal from Greystones Harbour at the Fastnet Rock on day two of Calves Week 2025 Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
In Class Zero ORC, where four boats opted for ORC results, Rockabill VI emerged the winner (3:18:44 corr) from ValenTina on (3:20:43 corr), Frank Whelan's canting keel Elliot 57s was third on 3:57:38 corr.
Radley's Imp tops Class One IRC and ORC
(from left) George Radley's Holland 39, Imp, Ronan Goggin's Cork 1720 Cruiser Mod and Tony O'Brien's local J109 entry Tighey Boy at the IRC One start of Calves Week Regatta's Fastnet Race Photo: Bob Bateman
In IRC One, George Radley's vintage Holland 39 Imp from Royal Cork on 3:01:21 corr won from local J109 entry Tighey Boy, skippered by Tony O'Brien on 4:01:04 corr. Third was Cove Sailing Club's Microspan IZimbra skippred by Denis Ellis on 3:24:39 corr.
On ECHO handicap, Tighey Boy won from Imp and Paul Coyne's ILC 30 Welbourn, Incorrect was third.
On ORC, where five are competing, Radley's One Tonner won by 34 seconds on 3:24:27 corr from IZimbra on 3:25:10. Third was Tighey Boy on 3:26:14 corr.
Swuzzlebubble wins Class Two IRC, Bataleu 88 wins ECHO race
IRC Race winner Swuzzlebubble (KZ 3494) makes a strong start in the IRC Two start of Calves Week Regatta's Fastnet Race Photo: Bob Bateman
In Class Two, as far as James Dwyer is concerned, regular IRC service resumed for the all-beating custom Half Tonner when it won with a corrected time of 3:46:10 from Tuesday's opening race winner, Norbert Reilly's J70 Ghostraider, helmed by his daughter Lynn, on 3:54:10 corrected. Pat Tanner's Castro 3/4 Tonner, Bateleur 88 was third on 3:57:55.
The Swuzzlebubble crew prepare to hoist the spinnaker at the Fastnet Rock Photo: Bob Bateman
Henry Hogg's freshwater Dehler 36, Lisador, representing Garrykennedy Sailing Club on Lough Derg rounds the Fastnet Rock in day two of Calves Week 2025 Regatta in West Cork Photo: Bob Bateman
On ECHO, Bateleur 88 won from Swuzzlebubble with Alan Dwyer's Elan 31 Joxer third.
Diamond shines in Class Three
Colman Garvey & Keirin Kelleher's quarter tonner Diamond from Royal Cork Photo: Bob Bateman
Class Three saw Colman Garvey & Keirin Kelleher's quarter tonner Diamond from Royal Cork win again in IRC racing in a corrected time of 4:04:20 this time from the J24's Jungle Juice, (Clinton Copithorne) with a corrected time of 4:11:43. Third was Royal Cork's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge (Conor Phelan) on 4:19:44 corr.
On ECHO, Diarmuid Dineen's First 32s5, Growler won from Anchor Challenge. Third was Jungle Juice.
Dynamo 25 leads Class Four IRC; Withcraft wins on ECHO
Rob O'Reilly's Dynamo 25 Bon Journo Part Deux leads Class Four IRC with another win, this time from Richard Hanley's GK 24, Saoirse. Third was the Paul Cotter/Dominic Falvey sistership Swift.
Simon Nelson's Oyster 26, Witchcraft won the ECHO race from Saoirse and Swift in third.
X99 Anteex leads White Sails
Bryan Heffernan's Dufour 36 Classic, Indulgence Photo: Bob Bateman
James O'Mahony and Dan Murphy's X99 Anteex leads White Sails One IRC with another win, again from Bryan Heffernan's Dufour 36 Classic, Indulgence. Third in the Fastnet race was Sean O'Riordan and John Murphy's First 36.7 Y Dream.
The McJenkins family's S&S 34, Morning After Photo: Bob Bateman
In a 16-boat WS2 ECHO division, Reavra Too, skippered by Stephen Lysaght, won from the McJenkins family's Morning After. Third was Royal Cork MG335, Magnet, (K O Brien & F Stanciu).
The Calves Week fleet is scheduled for round the cans racing in Roaring Water Bay on Thursday.
Calves Week Regatta 2025: Wednesday's Fastnet Race Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman
Full results below
