Thursday (Day 5) 07:30 hrs: With the current weather-dominating Low Pressure area now well north in the Hebrides, and with its centre continuing further away on its northesterly course, in the North Channel the mostly sou-southwest winds in the night have been squally but eminently sailable as the main peloton of the Round Ireland fleet took on the sometimes difficult Rathlin Island to South Rock stage.

The favourable south-going tide may have ended by 04:00 hours, but the squally wind drew sufficiently off the land for the more high-winded boats to make the course until more tacking became necessary south of Mew Island at the entrance to Belfast Lough. Those who have made it past the South Rock are into a dead beat towards Wicklow, with the knowledge that those following will experience a slowly-veering wind that will increasingly make starboard the predominant tack.

The leading Class 40, American Greg Leonard's Swift, is off Dublin Bay, making 9.7 knots and well into the area where the ebb runs favourably south.

IRC BOATS

The IRC boats are led by the Lombard 46 Pata Negra (Sam & Andrew Hall, Pwllheli) and the former Teasing Machine, Mark Emerson's Phosphorous II, in a duel which has lasted many miles. They are currently slugging it out close together on opposing tacks at 7.0 knots and better, midway between St Johns Point on the County Down and the south points of the Isle of Man.

Mark Emerson's Phosphorous II is in a day five Round Ireland Race duel with Pata Negra on the Irish Sea Photo: Afloat

"DUEL OF DAYS"

Over towards St John's Point, a similar "duel of days" continues between the First 50 Checkmate XX (Nigel Biggs & Dave Cullen) and the J 121 Darkwood (Michael O'Donnell), but all four are led on corrected time by the smaller JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins, RIYC) ten miles astern and leading IRC2 while currently holding 8th overall on IRC.

The First 50 Checkmate XX (Nigel Biggs & Dave Cullen) above and the J 121 Darkwood (Michael O'Donnell) below (both pictured on day two off Cork Harbour) have been duelling for days in the Round Ireland Race Photos: Bob Bateman

The JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins, RIYC) is leading IRC2 while currently holding 8th overall on IRC on day five of the 2024 Round Ireland Race Photo: Afloat

Boats hugging the Ards Peninsula east coast have increasingly short-tacked since the tide turned against them, but the Sunfast 3600 Bellino (Rob Craigie & Deb Fish) – approaching Ireland's most easterly point at Ballyhalbert - continues to lead the Two-Handed Division as well as being first in IRC 3 and 8th overall.

Deb Fish and Rob Craigie on the Sunfast 3600 Bellino Photo: Afloat

DESERT STAR STAYS THIRD OVERALL

Currently crossing the mouth of Belfast Lough and laying the course for the time being, Irish Offshore Sailing's Sunfast 3700 Desert Star (Ronan O Siochru) is emerging from one of the stronger areas of adverse ebb off Island Magee (the peninsula enclosing Larne Lough), and is logged at just 4.6 knots. But she continues to lead IRC 4 and the Sailing Schools, and to hold onto 3rd Overall, The Star is better than three hours in that overall contest ahead of the Scottish A31 Toucan (Daniel Smith), which has worked her way up to second in IRC 4 and fourth overall.

Irish Offshore Sailing's Sunfast 3700 Desert Star (Ronan O Siochru) Photo: Afloat

WEST DONEGAL

The stronger winds further west find the last boat on the water, Robert Marchant's gallant Fulmar Fever, the Westerly Fulmar 32 from Dunmore East, still battling on off the West Coast of Donegal, with 280 miles to sail, but a good 6.3 knots on the clock.

Most past contenders' recollections of the Round Ireland is of finishing on Thursday, and this looks like being the case this time round, though the hour may be late for some, yet those still well up the North Channel have the welcome prospect of a freeing breeze as the afternoon goes on.