0700 hrs Sunday: With the northeast going flood making in the Tuskar Rock area from 2100hrs Saturday and the wind fading, it was a difficult night for the Round Ireland Race fleet off the Wicklow coast. None suffered so grieviously as the on-water leader Khumbu, the Botin 56 which effectively came to a complete stop about five miles south and southwest of the Tuskar between 2200hrs or even earlier on Saturday, and 0200 hrs this Sunday morning, to make for four hours gone, utterly gone.

Front-Runners — Tom Kneen’s Sunrise (GBR 888X) leads Mike and Richie Evans’ J/112e The Big Picture (IRL 1840) off the Wicklow coast in the opening stages of the Round Ireland Yacht Race. By Sunday morning, Sunrise was fourth overall on corrected time, with The Big Picture second behind IRC leader Outrajeous. Photo: Bob Bateman

But then, when the tide was turning favourable again, the developing High had a centre of sorts on the north coast of Ireland, which provided a nor’easter off Wexford pushing towards 10 mph to have everyone back in business, on track and making progress. Khumbu continues to lead with better than 100 miles made good and well along the south coast, but now second on the water is the Italian Class40 Maccafferri Futura.

IT’S OUTRAJEOUS

In IRC overall, Johnny & Suzie Murphy’s Outrajeous (Howth YC) continues to lead with 85 miles made good, with clubmates Mike & Richie Evans in the J/112e The Big Picture second and the Lough Ree/Kinsale YC JPK 10.30 Loinnir third.

Light-Air Specialist — Loinnir slips south along the Irish coast during the opening stages of the Round Ireland Yacht Race. The JPK 10.30 was third overall on IRC corrected time after the first night at sea. Photo: Bob Bateman

Tom Kneen’s Sunrise is fourth on CT with Rob Craigie’s Sunfast 36 Bellino (co-skippered by RORC Commodore Deb Fish) lying fifth and first of the two-handers, while Frank Whelan’s flying machine El Syd ftom Grreystones does well, despite her higher rating, to be sixth overall.

Two-Handed Contender — Bellino sails in the light airs that shaped the opening stages of the Round Ireland Yacht Race. The Sun Fast 3600 was leading the two-handed division and lying fifth overall on IRC corrected time after the first night at sea. Photo: Afloat

Rating Defier — El Syd presses on in light conditions off Ireland's southeast coast. Despite carrying a significantly higher IRC rating than many of her rivals, the Greystones entry was sixth overall on corrected time on Sunday morning. Photo: Afloat

Seventeen hours into the race, rating is playing an extra-significant role with much time advantage simply evaporating for high rated boats. It’s worth noting that not only is Outrajeous very well sailed, but she does so with a competitive rating of 1.002, whereas Bellino has to contend with1.024, while Khumbu is out of sight ratings-wise, lost in the mist towards the top of the numbers mountain.

Leader Stalled — The Botin 56 Khumbu leads on the water during the early stages of the Round Ireland Yacht Race. A lengthy spell of near-calm conditions south of Tuskar Rock slowed the front-runner overnight, though she remained clear ahead by miles sailed. Photo: Afloat