At the beginning of June, we were happy to run with the story that 2024's weather was going to be the reverse of 2023. Last year, you may remember that there was good weather in late May and the first three weeks of June. But from late June onwards until September, it was one very poor summer.

Well, there's no doubting the often poor weather we've had so far, even if it has been notably localised with really powerful sunshine at times.

Last Saturday, for instance, there were three frontal systems moving across Ireland at once. But if you happened to find yourself in West Cork and Kerry on Saturday afternoon, the post-rain-enhanced sunshine blasted brightly through with a strong but sailable breeze, as the 1720s demonstrated at Baltimore.

Glorious! The Durcan/O'Shea team's 1720 T-Bone (RCYC & BSC) developing full power in hyper-bright sunshine off Baltimore in the Nationals on Saturday afternoon. Photo: BSC/Facebook

But as this week progresses, it seems as though high pressure is going to play a steadier role, and the SSE Renewables Round Ireland start on Saturday at Wicklow looks like taking place in a moderate Atlantic wind between southwest and west, though until now 2024 meteorological matters have been so unstable that every forecast, including this one, still comes with a caveat.

Be that as it may, the high should have built up by next Tuesday, suggesting a weather pattern favouring the bigger boats, as they will be finishing while smaller craft will be enduring lighter airs many miles astern.

BIG BOATS FAVOURED?

Thus it looks good for Peter Smyth's Ker 46 Searcher (RIYC), winner - as Tonnere de Breskens - in 2010. And we will of course never forget the possibilities for George Radley's Holland 39 Imp, overall winner in 2000. She recently completed a major re-spray in Crosshaven Boatyard, which did indeed reveal that somewhere along the way she has acquired a keel which looks as though it properly belongs on a JPK 11.80.

Whatever, George II and George III and their team will be racing for the honour of Cobh, and it wouldn't be the first time that they and their very special boat surprise us all, regardless of what the winds do.

George Radley II's Imp later on launch day last week, having been rigged at Crosshaven before transferring (as seen here) to East Ferry Marina to be nearer Fort Radley. Photo: via Facebook