Ireland's challenge at the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup is living up to expectation with Tiger (George Kenefick) fourth and Eamon Rohan fifth in Anchor Challenge as the event enters the final phase today. Ireland's interest in the event increases with the news that three members of the crew of Anthony O'Leary's Antix from Royal Cork Yacht Club are sailing on Alice II; Nicholas O'Leary, James Hynes and Richie Watkin.
Anchor Challenge finding her form with a win in race five yesterday. Photo: Bob Bateman
Day 2 of the 2011 Cup delivered decidedly less sun but happily plenty more wind. With a solid twelve knot north-easterly blowing from early morning, the competitors were released from the marina at 09.00 and racing started bang on time at 10.30. After a couple of general recalls caused by the fleet's collective over-enthusiasm, Race 4 of the series eventually got away at the third time of asking. From the very first beat Louise Morton's 'Espada' helmed by Colette Blair, Rob Gray on 'Aguila' and 'Cote' owned by Darren Marston and Olly Ophaus, were all engaged in a nip and tuck battle at the front of the fleet. There was nothing between all three of these boats for the entire race with each of them taking the lead at various points. In the end 'Aguila' crossed the line overlapped with 'Espada' to take the line honours victory, with 'Cote' just two boatlengths back in third place on the water. On handicap however 'Espada' squeaked to victory by just a single second ahead of 'Aguila' in second place. 'Cote' had to concede third place to Ian Southworth's 'Whiskers' by 5 seconds on corrected time, pushing 'Cote' down to fourth, ahead of Paul Treliving's 'Odd Job' in fifth.
The breeze had reduced by a couple of knots by the time the fleet lined up for the start of Race 4. However the startline enthusiasm of the fleet remained undiminished, forcing another General Recall before the race could eventually get away. Rickard Melander on 'Alice II' won the committee boat end of the line and took an early lead going up the first beat. By the top mark though it was 'Espada' and 'Cote' who were fighting it out for the lead once again. These two boats continued to play a cat and mouse game with each other for the rest of the race, with 'Espada' eventually gaining control to take the win on the water by 10 seconds. This was good enough to give the 'Espada' crew their second corrected time race win of the day, ahead of 'Cote' in second and 'Whiskers' in third. Fourth was 'Alice II' with 'Panic' owned by Paul & Mark Lees taking fifth.
With conditions moderating a little more and just the hint of rain in the air, Race 5 got away under a Black Flag. With two wins under their belts, the 'Espada' crew were now on a roll and saw off sustained challenges from 'Kote', 'Alice II', Eamonn Rohan's 'Anchor Challenge', as well as George Kenefick's 'Tiger' to take another first both on the water and on corrected time. 'Tiger' corrected out into second, with 'Cote' third, 'Alice II' fourth and 'Anchor Challenge' fifth.
The various attempts to start the final race of the day involved a variety of penalty flags and resulted in 5 boats receiving Z-Flag penalties and a further 5 disqualified under the Black Flag rule. The Irish crew on 'Anchor Challenge' finally found their true form to take a line honours and corrected time win, ahead of 'Whiskers' in second and the ever present 'Espada' in third. John Welch on 'Phoenix' took fourth with Jamie McDowell & Brett Linton's New Zealand entry 'Blackfun' awarded fifth place after incurring a Z-Flag penalty.
With all of the scheduled 6 races completed and the regatta now back on track, the results show a new overall leader in the shape of Louise Morton's 'Espada'. Their impressive 1,1,1,3 scoreline for the day sees them hold a 16 point lead going into the final three races tomorrow over Ian Southworth's second placed 'Whiskers'. Yesterday's overnight leader, Rob Gray on 'Aguila', has dropped down to third tonight, just 1 point behind 'Whiskers' and 6 points ahead of George Kenefick's 'Tiger' in fourth. Rounding out the top 5 at the end of Day 2 is Eamonn Rohan's 'Anchor Challenge'.
In the newly introduced and hotly contested all ISAF certified amateur Corinthian Division, George Kenefick's 'Tiger' tops the leaderboard from Laurent Beaurin's '45 South' in second and 'Lancelot' owned by Matt Clark & Tony Thackray.
On the eve of the final day of racing the fleet assembled at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club for the regatta gala dinner and enjoyed a fantastic after dinner speech from British singlehanded yachtswoman Sam Davies about her exploits in the Vendee Globe around the world race.
Racing at the 2011 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup concludes today with three more races scheduled.
