Sunday: 1930 hrs - In a reasonably lively Round Ireland Race from Wicklow, we’d be thinking in terms of the leaders on the water getting to the neighbourhood of the Fastnet Rock maybe 24 hours after the start.

But not this year. Although there has been reasonable progress tacking downwind all along the south coast of Ireland today (Sunday) in sunshine, the fleet still carry the time burden of at least four hours going nowhere in the vicinity of the Tuskar Rock on Saturday night.

And though we see the leader, the impressive Botin 56 Khumbu, showing speeds of 10 knots from time to time, there have been distinct gaps in the pace. And at 1900 hrs this Sunday evening, she was shaping up to pass south of Kedge Island to the east of the entrance to Baltimore, a couple of miles out to sea, but with every expectation of the wind continuing to fall away, even with the Fastnet Rock in tantalizing sight ahead.

CALLING GYBES TO PERFECTION

Through the afternoon, Frank Whelan’s Sydney 43 El Syd from Greystones has been going mighty well, and is living with her high rating. But perhaps the most impressive performance has been Tom Kneen’s JPK 11.80 Sunrise, which has called the gybes to perfection and is currently leading IRC overall.

Poised For Passage — Frank Whelan's Sydney 43 El Syd settles into the opening miles of the 2026 Round Ireland Yacht Race after the start off Wicklow. The Greystones entry emerged as one of the leading Irish performers during the race's tactical opening stages. Photo: Afloat

But second overall is that pesky competitively-rated J/109 Outrajeous (Johnny & Suzie Murphy, Howth YC), and the overnight slowing of the pace will probably be to their advantage, and also that of their clubmate Mike Evans with the J/112e The Big Picture, who lies third.

In The Hunt — Loinnir Girl shortly after the Wicklow start of the 2026 Round Ireland Yacht Race. By Sunday evening, the JPK 10.30 was among the leading Irish boats on IRC corrected time as the fleet approached the Fastnet. Photo: Afloat.

EL SYD LEARNING TO LIVE WITH HARSH RATING?

But as we said, El Syd is learning to live with her harsh rating, and she is fourth, ahead of two-handed stars Rob Craigie and RORC Commodore Beth Fish in the Sunfast 3600 Bellino, with the Lough Ree/Kinsale combo on the JPK 10.30 Loinnir Girl sixth and then – for the first time up in lights – France’s veteran star Gery Trentesaux in his scow-bowed Courrier Pogo at 7th.

French Factor — Gery Trentesaux's distinctive scow-bowed Pogo RC shortly after the start of the 2026 Round Ireland Yacht Race off Wicklow. By Sunday evening, the experienced French campaigner had moved into seventh overall on IRC corrected time as the fleet closed on Fastnet Rock. Photo: Afloat

Thus it may be shaping up to be another frustratingly windless night at sea. But the continually developing situation in the placings as crews get more closely to grips with their boats’ performance needs makes this Round Ireland as addictive as ever.