Day 6 0800: In the final stages of their Fastnet Race through last night and the small hours of this morning, Ireland's Kenneth Rumball and Pamela Lee in RL Sailing found themselves in a three-way battle of the Two-Handers, even if as Figaro 3 racers they were in a different setup to the IR 2H leaders, Shirley Robertson and Henry Bomby in the Sun Fast 3300 Swell, and Alexis Loison and Guillaume Pirouelle in the JPK 10.30 Leon.
It certainly gave a much-needed edge to the conclusion of RL Sailing's race, as they were ahead of the next Figaro 3 by nearly fifty miles. And it was an edge which in itself had the right conclusion, as they finished at Cherbourg this morning at 0341 closely ahead – by six minutes – of the Robertson/Bomby crew, and with a bigger gap – 23 minutes – on Leon.
However, as far as the Two-Handed Class is concerned, it looks as though Loison & Piroulle now have it stitched up, as their lower rating put them 36 minutes ahead of Robertson & Bomby on CT, and it also gives them the current overall lead in IRC 3, from which they are unlikely to be dislodged.
Meanwhile, the determinedly-maintained pace and shrewd tactics aboard Irish Offshore Sailing's Sunfast 37 Desert Star (Ronan O Siochru) has seen her move back up to second in IRC 4, although now shown as an hour behind the leader, the X332 Trading-advices.com, and just 11 minutes clear of the third-place boat, the Dehler 33 Sun Hill, which has displaced the Sigma 38 With Alacrity into fourth place by nearly an hour.
Although the tides to the finish are now favourable, it's going to be a very long thirty miles.
Tracker below
