#roundireland – The leading yacht in the Round Ireland Yacht Race has just reached the halfway point and the fleet is now experiencing a modest east to southeast breeze. As has been the trend in this slow race, the larger yachts will encounter lighter winds while the main fleet carries the pressure up to them, effectively resetting the clock back to zero, reducing the race length and favouring the lower rated boats.
At the head of the fleet, the Volvo 70 Monster Project has opened up a 12 mile lead over Teng Tools Kilcullen, equivalent to a projected 2 hour advantage at the finish, although it will only be a class win and not an overall victory.
Back at the Blaskets, Cavatina maintains her overall lead, some two corrected hours ahead of Dillon father and son sailing two-handed on Big Deal, and just ahead of Liam Shanahan’s Ruth who seems to be winning the battle of the J-boats.
Joe McDonald’s News talk for Adrenalin is comfortably ahead of Libertalia in IRC Z, while 2012 winner Inismor leads IRC 1. The Harris/Riggs Sydney 36 Tanit is ahead in IRC 2, J109s Ruth and Mojito(Dunlop/Cox) top IRC 3, while Cavatina leads in IRC 4,5 and 6.
The fleet can expect lighter, heading winds as it makes for the Galway and Mayo coasts, once again favouring the lower rated boats.
Midnight Tuesday is probably the very earliest that the leaders will finish, more likely later in the morning, with the IRC winners coming in some 24 hours later.
Selected 'Tweets' from the race course below:
Race around Ireland has be unreal photo of Great Skellig @BowWaves @RoundIreland @Ireland @GoToIrelandCA pic.twitter.com/EawlEZ83CV
— Thomas O'Malley (@ThomasOMalley12) June 30, 2014
Richard Harris on Tanit at the Skelligs around 6am @RoundIreland @ClydeMarLeather @SaturnSails #RoundIreland14 pic.twitter.com/kNJFUBnNAL
— Roisin Harris (@RoisinHarris) June 30, 2014
@SailingLogic @RoundIreland a busy night trimming on #ArthurLogic kite up & flying nicely and stunning sunrise too pic.twitter.com/t2r3m12j1S
— Jennifer Smyth (@jsmyth12) June 30, 2014
@BowWaves @RoundIreland @AfloatMagazine @sailing_news variable 5kts at Galway, you gonna have to hang on 'till wednesday before it freshens!
— Port of Galway (@portofgalway) June 30, 2014