Scotland's J122E El Gran Senor has taken the lead of Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup after the first race of the 17-boat Coastal IRC division.
The Clyde Cruising Club entry, which finished fourth overall in 2022's Cork Week Class One, is back on Munster waters but has switched to coastal class racing this time.
Coastal class competitors got a course to Black Tom in Courtmacsherry Bay in the first race of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman
Light westerly winds opened the regatta, with the coastal class starting at 11.30 am and sailing to and from Black Tom in Courtmacsherry Bay, a three-hour race.
Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen of Howth Yacht Club are lying second in the First 50, Checkmate XX.
The brand new J112E ValenTina skippered by Johnny Treanor of the National Yacht Club, make her Irish debut at the Sovereign's Cup 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman
Third is the brand new J112E ValenTina of Johnny Treanor of the National Yacht Club, which marks her Irish debut at the Sovereign's Cup. As regular Afloat readers know, the just-launched ValenTina won her class at last week's Key Yachting J-Cup on the Solent.
Lying fourth is Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44, Samatom, with the regatta sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group lying fifth in the J122, JellyBaby.
This is the 15th edition of the biennial regatta, which has attracted 90 entries across all divisions and runs from 21st to 24th June and incorporates the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.
See results below
