The Rush Sailing Club and Baltimore Sailing Club team on the distinctively coloured Farr Half Tonner '2 Farr' (Boardman, Kelly, O'Leary) leads overall after three close races sailed in the IRC Two fleet at Volvo Cork Week.

Three windward leeward races were held on a course area southeast of Roches Point by International Race Officer Con Murphy.

The competition is now well and truly underway after Monday's first coastal race was scrubbed over a missing mark.

In eight to 15-knot conditions and flat seas, as predicted, the three competing Half Tonners have shown their speed advantage with the ICRA boat of the year for 2023, the Dwyer family's Swuzzlebubble (a near sistership to 2 Farr), second in the 12-boat fleet by a point.

The Dwyer family's Swuzzlebubble scored 1,2,2 to place second overall in the IRC Two fleet at Volvo Cork Week Photo: Bob Bateman 

Third on nine points is Ronan and John Downing's Miss Whiplash from the Royal Cork YC. 

“It’s nip and tuck the whole time, really close racing under IRC,” commented 2 Farr’s Rob O’Leary. “Swuzzlebubble and Miss Whiplash are well-sailed and we have had two days of very different conditions. There is plenty of racing to come and I am sure it will be a tight finish by the end of the regatta.”

Ronan and John Downing's Miss Whiplash from the Royal Cork YC Photo: James Tomlinson

A start of the 12-boat IRC Two fleet on Tuesday at Volvo Cork Week. Photo: Con Murphy

Racing continues on Wednesday with the Harbour Race for all classes as part of the five-day schedule at Cork Week 2024.