Irish boats are winning overall in two divisions and second in another as the final day of the Scottish Series sets sail today in Tarbert that incorporates the Scottish IRC Championships.
In the tough RC35 class, Dublin family-based J109s are first and second with Howth Yacht Club's Storm (The Kelly family) ahead of the National Yacht Club's (The Hall family). As regular Afloat.ie readers will know, this is no flash-in-the-pan for Storm, who are the defending class champions at Tarbert. The Kelly's, who are Irish J109 National Champions, have also tasted victory this season already with a comprehensive win a fortnight ago, at Scotland's Kip Regatta.
In Class four, Carrickfergus Sailing Club's Frist, 'F'nGr8' skippered by Rory Fekkes is the overall leader.
Conor Phelan's Jump Juice is fighting for the overall lead in Class One Photo: Marc Turner
In Class one, Conor Phelan's Royal Cork Yacht Club Ker Custom Ker 37, Jump Juice trails France's Gery Trentesaux for the overall lead by only 3.5 points.
The Luddon Fleet saw yet more champagne sailing conditions with a warm Southerly 15 – 20mph building throughout the day. With one windward-leeward race planned, followed by the round Inchmarnock Race the IRC fleet enjoyed a busy day navigating around the waters of Loch Fyne.
No one enjoyed the day more than Trentesaux's Courrier Recommande in IRC 1 displaying an impressive set of results with two firsts changing the leader-board leaving him 3.5 points ahead of Cork Harbour's Jump Juice and Carrickgergus's Spirit of Jacana both on 17.5 closely followed by Aurora on 20 points meaning this class is still wide open heading into tomorrow (Monday).
Yesterday, in The Makars Mash RC35 Class, Dave Kelly, Storm, retains his position on 13 points after stretching his lead to a 3 point difference over Brian and John Hall sailing their J109, Something Else, with both boats showing great crew work and downwind speed. They are followed by Charlie Frize of team Banshee on 21.5 points who had a difficult first race today leaving them 3rd in class.
In Luddon IRC Class 3 things are tighter than ever for the class, with Samurai J owned by Alan Macleod/Andrew Knowles and Jonny Swan's half-tonner Harmony only separated by 1 point. This means that tomorrow these two boats are going to go down to the wire. Vixen, sailed by Neal Piper from Tynemouth SC, is sitting on 17 points and could upset the pecking order.
In IRC Class 4 things have changed around at the top with F'nGr8, owned by Rory Fekkes from Carrickfergus YC, dragging themselves into first place with two bullets today showing great control and pace. This has pushed Jon Fitzgerald of Ayesha into second place, with only half a point separating these two titans, closely followed by Ben Shelley's Lady Ex in third place on 16 points. The last two races scheduled for Monday mean it is still anyone's Series.
Today in the Tunnock's CYCA class 5 Howard Morrison, Enigma, has had his 8 point lead slashed to 3 by Alan Dunnet's Valhalla of Ashton sitting on 15 points, displaying an impressive show of downwind sailing in the passage race with controlled composure. They are followed by Ian Hard's Hardslog on 22 points.
In CYCA Class 6 Alistair Gay's Orwell Lass compounds their lead within the class with a 3rd and 2nd in today's racing giving them a comfortable lead over Richard Doig's Sirius on 19 points. However, the competition for second place is still very open with Oliver Epsom's Radioactivity on 22 points.
CYCA Class 7 Slippi Gin owned by Dave & Karen Parker and Brian Roberston's Celtic Spirit are still fighting it out for first place, with only 1 point separating the two. They are followed by more close racing in the challenge for second with Argento and Encore separated by 1 point.
CYCA Class 8 has again had changes at the top with Clive Reeves' Lyrebird now taking the lead, however followed closely by George Reid and Alistair Wilkie of Vitale and Ian Nicolson's St Bridget both on 10 points, only 1 point behind the class leader meaning things are all still open heading into tomorrow (Monday).
The Event Scotland Fleet finally enjoyed some stable winds from the south giving them 3 races in excellent conditions in upper Loch Fyne with some closely fought One Design racing in all classes.
In the Sigma fleet the leaderboard has changed overnight with James Miller of Mayrise posting a 2nd and two 1st places, moving ahead of overnight leader Griogair Whyte of Close Encounters. In third place is Alan Harper and Eric Robertson sailing Leaky Roof II, leaving the top three separated by only 4 points going into the last day and likely to be settled in the last race.
Big changes in the Hunter 707 fleet today as Andy Hughes, Sharky, moves from 2nd to 1st after posting a 1st, 4th and 2nd demonstrating that great starting can deliver in such a tight fleet. Boat control was the name of the game today and this was well demonstrated by his crew, pushing them into first place ahead of More T Vicar by 4 points. Seaword dropped to 3rd after a challenging day with an 8th, 2nd and 5th.
There were changes in the Sonata fleet, but Brian Wiseman of Virtuoso continues to lead after cementing his place with two 1sts and a 2nd.. MacNish/Galbraith and Chassels' Old School breaking Virtuoso's string of firsts in the second race put them on 18 points and Mark Taylor's Saraband is now on 23 points.
