Overall leaders have emerged in all classes at Volvo Cork Week today after 85 yachts formed an impressive single starting line for the regatta's signature race in the beautiful surroundings of Cork Harbour for day three of the week long event.
The race is on across all 17–classes to establish overall leads going into the final two days that will feature three intense races per day.
After a General Recall the fleet readied themselves for a Black Flag restart today, which was far from conservative, many of the massive starting line up hitting the line on the 'B' of the Bang!
(Above and below) Getting set for the all–in start, Cork Week's 'signature' race Photo: Bob Bateman
A huge starting-line of a kilometre in length was needed to accommodate the 85 boats and stretched across the mouth of Cork Harbour outside Roche's point. Photo: Bob Bateman
Irish Sailing President Jack Roy Cork Week's Principal Race Officer Photo: Bob Bateman
A kaleidoscope of spinnakers made for an amazing sight as the fleet entered Cork Harbour for close quarters racing past Spike Island and Cobh. Race Officers Jack Roy and Rob Lamb were roundly applauded at the daily prize giving for their teams' efforts in producing a great day of racing.
(Above and below) The spinnaker parade of sail downwind was a great sight ashore Photo: Bob Bateman
The sun split through the broken clouds as a long stream of spinnaker sails snaked from Church Bay northwards towards Cobh as the procession of boats raced past the rising slopes of the famous maritime town Photo: Bob Bateman
The Beaufort Cup switched to inshore mode for the Harbour Race. Barry Byrne's Irish Defence Force team, racing Joker 2, pulled off a Harry Houdini Act to win the race by just seven seconds from Simon Coveney's Irish Defence Forces Team, racing Jedi. Joker 2 was deep down in the class rounding in front of Cobh but came back with some tenacity. The two J/109s were overlapped going through the finish line, Jedi took the gun by one second but Joker 2 was the victor after time correction. Youen Jacob's Baltimore RNLI team, racing J/109 Juggerknot was third. Joker 2 now has a three-point lead in their defence of the Beaufort Cup. Jedi and Juggerknot are tied for second place.
Simon Coveney's Beaufort Cup entry Jedi, with INSS's Kenny Rumball of Dun Laoghaire trimming the kite Photo: Bob Bateman
Close racing for the Beaufort Cup fleet with Baltimore RNLI ( the J109 Juggerknot) closest to camera Photo: Bob Bateman
Thomas Roche's Salona Meredian from Kinsale representing the Irish Naval Services and the Simon Community Photo: Bob Bateman
Mike Shrives' Jolly Jack Tar from the Royal Navy Sailing Association Photo: Bob Bateman
In IRC One, day one leader Jay Colville's Forty Licks with Russell McGovern among the crew from East Down Yacht Club was the winner of the Harbour Race to go back on top overall of the nine boat fleet. Jonathan Anderson's El Gran Senor, a J122E, was third to give the Clyde entry second overall. Swansea's Dark Angel, with Robert O'Leary helming, is now third overall after a second in today's harbour race.
IRC One Leader Jay Colville's Forty Licks from East Down Photo: Bob Bateman
(Above and below) Jonathan Anderson's El Gran Senor, a J122E to weather with Conor Phelan's Jump Ker 37 below Photo: Bob Bateman
Mark Mansfield on the helm of the Farr 42 Wow Photo: Bob Bateman
In IRC Two, Brian & Mary Jones' J/109 Jelly Baby (Royal Cork YC) put in a strong performance to win the Harbour Race and in doing so lead the class for the series after three races but only on countback from Dunlop & Cox's J/109 Mojito (Pwllheli SC).
Jelly Baby (Brian & Mary Jones) and Hakuna Matata (Jean Francois Nouel) on port tack in close to Cobh Photo: Bob Bateman
IRC 3 leader Jonny Swan's Half Tonner Harmony (Howth YC) on starboard tack with IRC 2 entry Hakuna Matata (Jean Francois Nouel) Photo: Bob Bateman
In IRC Three, Jonny Swan's Half Tonner Harmony (Howth YC) took a game-changing win to go top of the class, scoring the fastest corrected time under IRC from all of the 85 starters.
(above and three photos below) An overall winner of the Harbour Race was declared across all classes that saw Jonny Swan on Harmony from Howth Yacht Club emerge top boat overall, defeating even the larger and newer boats of Class One thanks to a very fast time around the 16.5 nautical-mile course Photo: Bob Bateman
“We got a great start and that put us in clear air after the top mark, which really helped us position the boat for good downwind speed.” commented Harmony's Jonny Swan. “In Cork Harbour the boys did a great job on the manoeuvres, so it really came together well.”
In IRC Four, Rory Fekkes' Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 corrected out to win the Harbour Race to go top of the class. Denis Hewitt's Mills 37 Raptor (Royal Irish YC) scored their second win of Volvo Cork Week in the Coastal IRC Class, just ahead of Brian Twomey's 1720 Dark Side (Royal Cork YC), which showed terrific pace.
Rory Fekkes' Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 from Carrickfergus Photo: Bob Bateman
“Great racing today, absolutely perfect conditions and a great course.” commented Raptor's, Denis Hewitt. “I have done this race so many times and always messed it up somewhere but we have some top local knowledge on board from Barry Rose and great sailors like Fintan Cairns. To be honest, I just did what they told me, and we hardly put a foot wrong."
Denis Hewitt and Fintan Carin's Raptor Photo: Bob Bateman
Aidan Heffernan's Dehler 36 Indulgence (SHSC) corrected out to win the Harbour Race in Non-Spinnaker IRC One, ahead of Broadhead, Collins & Stuart's Sigma 38 Persistance (Royal Irish YC), which leads the class with the lowest net point score for the regatta. Pat Vaughan's Sigma 33 Aramis (Royal Cork YC) was the winer of Non-Spinnaker IRC Two.
Volvo Cork Week continues tomorrow, Thursday 19th July, with three short sharp races scheduled for most of the IRC Classes, as well as the start of the One Design Southern Championships for the 1720 Class and the International Dragons.
Photo Gallery from today's in–harbour race by Bob Bateman below:
Full results here
