#roundireland – After an almost windless night on the southwest coast, dawn on day three finds the 2014 Round Ireland Race fleet occupying a relatively small portion of the ocean between the Fastnet and the Blasket Islands. The slow progress to date suggest that the overall winner of this year's race is likely to come from the lower rated portion of the fleet, increasing the chances for Cavatina to become the first three time winner of this 704 mile ocean classic.
The “ocean greyounds”, currently leading on the water, have been made to look like mongrels with gimpy legs by the ‘slack variable flow” that currently covers Ireland.
Adding to their woes is the fact that the more northerly progress they make, the further they are getting from the short term pressure development on the Kerry coast later today.
Already more than 60 hours behind on predicted corrected time at the finish, the only hope for the big boats is to hook into a new system on the north-west coast that leaves the slower boats in the “doldrums”.
However, this is an unlikely scenario as less than 60 miles separates leader Monster Project from back marker Amazing Grace, who must be the only boat delighted with these conditions as it has allowed her to get back in the race after her forced restart.
While Cavatina remains the notional leader on IRC, it is far too early to speculate on an overall winner, as the congestion on the Kerry coast becomes worthy of an AA Roadwatch report.
@RoundIreland @sailracewin ah lads! You have to have a decent meal!! Potatoes are cooking!! pic.twitter.com/uBcdF6gosl
— Cavatina Irl3861 (@cavatinaireland) June 29, 2014
Anxious eyes will be on the boats’ galleys now to see if the catering department have allowed for prolonged spells of ‘parking’.
Enjoy the scenery crews, you’re going to be seeing a lot of it!
