It is three wins from three races for Paul O'Higgins' well-sailed Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in the ISORA Viking Marine Musto Coastal Series after a dramatic 23-mile race off the Dublin and Wicklow coasts on Sunday (April 27th) afternoon.
The result will confirm Rockabill as the overall winner of the Vincent Farrell Trophy for the four-race mini series after the fourth race sails in August.
Finishing second in race three was Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club, with Alan Hannon's JPK 10.30 Coquine finishing third in the 13-boat fleet.
The early use of a code zero sail gave Coquine an early advantage off the all-in start at the Dun Laoghaire Outfall Buoy start line at 11 am in shifting westerly winds of ten knots, but often up to 20 in gusts and a choppy sea.
Part of the 13 boat fleet on a fetch past Dun Laoghaire Harbour after the start of the third race of the ISORA Viking Marine Musto Coastal Series, with overall winner Rockabill VI to leeeward, flying a Code zero. Photo: Afloat
The Belfast Lough JPK was first across the harbour mouth on a tight fetch to the first mark on the course, the Muglins off Dalkey Island. However, the early lead on the water was short-lived as a major change in wind direction in Scotsman's Bay meant the code zeros were quickly doused, and the fleet hardened up for the new wind.
There were choppy seas and gusty and shifty winds at the start of the ISORA fleet's departure from the bay where the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships were being sailed on three courses. Photo: Afloat
Rockabill VI took this early advantage as the fleet sailed from Muglins to the Moulditch Buoy (P) off Greystones Harbour in County Wicklow, then back to the Muglins (P) and a finish between the Dun Laoghhaire pier heads.
By 2.15 pm, Rockabill was streaking back across Scotsman's Bay in a strong southerly breeze under symmetric spinnaker with Aurelia in pursuit, 20 boat lengths or so behind under asymmetric.
Pat Hogan's Dehler 30 OD was a new entrant into the ISORA fleet for the 23 mile race from Dun Laoghaire to Moulditch Buoy and back Photo: Afloat
The race was not without incident, as in the closing stages the Ker 32 Hijacker hit the rocks at the Muglins on her return to the Bay, resulting in a Mayday call as Afloat reports here.
The final race of the mini-series is a four-hour night race, scheduled for August 15th.
In Wales, Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox were the overall winners of Saturday's 11-boat coastal race off Pwllheli.
