Tuesday 08:00: France’s offshore racing veteran legend Gery Trentesaux and Ireland’s Figaro winner Tom Dolan are proving to be a potent mix aboard the scow-bowed Courrier Pogo, as they picked up best as an overnight sou’west airstream spread slowly east towards the becalmed Round Ireland fleet. This morning, the Courrier team are due west of Inishbofin in Galway, and clipping along to such good style that they’ve made good 110 miles in the last 24 hours despite the extensive wind gaps.

Rivals Renewed — Outrajeous and Sunrise cross tacks off Wicklow Head at Saturday's start. Three days later, both boats remained among the leading contenders as the Round Ireland Race entered a decisive phase Photo: Bob Bateman

But longtime overall leader Outrajeous (J/109, Johnny Murphy) is also back in business. She’s now due west of the Aran Islands, though well out to sea in the best locally-available breeze, and showing 7.7 knots with 93 miles good through the flat 24 hours, while sitting comfortably in second overall in IRC ahead of the usual suspects like Bellino, Sunrise, Pata Negra and Lonnir Girl.

Back In Business — Bellino races south from Dublin Bay at the Round Ireland Race start. The British campaign remained among the principal challengers as the returning breeze reshaped the overall standings Photo: Afloat

Way up ahead on the water, Guy Gillon’s lethal black new Botin 56 Khumbu is far out northwest off Donegal. She came past Eagle Island, Mayo’s northwest tip, at 01:00 hrs this morning, though well offshore, and has stayed out in the best of the new breeze, though now closing towards Tory Island at 12.7 knots.

Back In Breeze — The ISORA champion Pata Negra powers south of Wicklow before the start of the 2026 Round Ireland Race. The return of southwesterly winds has reopened tactical opportunities for the chasing pack Photo: Afloat

Yesterday afternoon and evening’s torture of light airs or total calm, stuck there trying to admire the Blaskets instead of hating them, is now a fading memory. But as the Round Ireland drama moves into a new scenario, here’s an image taken at dawn yesterday aboard Noel Coleman’s Oyster 37 Oyster Blue from Cork Harbour, with a crew of family and friends, putting the Fastnet astern to provide an eloquent memory for winter’s long dark days.    

Family & friends aboard Noel Coleman’s Oyster 37 Blue Oyster from Cork putting the Fastnet Rock astern on Monday morning.