D2D Wed, 730 pm - Ron O’Hanley’s highy-tuned Cookson 50 Turbo Privateer from America flies on, and was past the Tuskar Rock by 18:40 hours with the last of the sluicing ebb helping her to 17 knots. Although boats with special offwind potential such as the newer Sunfast 3600s and 3300s, like John O’Gorman’s 3600 Hot Cookie from Dun Laoghaire (briefly the overall IRC leader) and the 3300 Cinnamon Girl (Cian McCarthy, Kinsale YC) have had their moments of glory, as the 270-mile Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race progresses, the conditions are tending to average out, thereby eliminating the effect of localised areas of less wind.
John O’Gorman’s 3600 Hot Cookie from Dun Laoghaire, an early overall IRC leader with J125 Jackknife (inshore) in the Dublin Bay stage of the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Photo: Afloat
Cian McCarthy gets ready to set the spinnaker on the Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl with Sam Hunt steering on Killiney Bay shortly after the start of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2023 Photo: Afloat
But in a sunny nor’easter Ireland’s southeast corner is usually a breeze place, and with the added element of the turn of the tide approaching, Privateer’s position strengthens by the minute.
Frank Whelan of Greystones sailing their relatively newly-arrived Elliott 57 Opal in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2023 Photo: Afloat
On down the fleet meanwhile, there have been intriguing changes in fortune.
Andrew & Sam Hall's J/125 Jackknife from Pwllheli exits Dublin Bay in the opening minutes of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2023 Photo: Afloat
And while Frank Whelan of Greystones and his crew have become more confident in sailing their relatively newly-arrived Elliott 57 Opal, not so very far astern is Andrew & Sam Hall from Pwllheli’s attractive J/125 Jackknife, romping along to lie second overall on IRC, but with less of the remaining tidal advantage in prospect at Tuskar.
Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) inshore in Killiney Bay (blue and yellow kite) and Pete Smyth’s Sunfast 3600 Searcher (NYC) shortly after the start of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2023 Photo: Afloat
The two early race stars, Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) and Pete Smyth’s Sunfast 3600 Searcher (NYC), are still very much in contention, with Searcher currently third, Rockabill VI fourth, Hot Cookie still going well at fifth, and Pwllheli’s Mojito the first of the J/109s at sixth.
Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) reaching in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2023 Photo: Afloat
But on current weather predictions, and with the first of the new flood tide going to hit the smaller boats at the Tuskar, Privateer is already looking like a done deal – she’s on course and on 18 knots south of the Saltees as we sign off this report at 19:30 hrs.