It's very tight at the top of the 14-boat fleet after a breezy first day of the AIB 1720 Southern Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club yesterday.
Two races were sailed outside Cork Harbour to the South West of Roches Point in 15 - 28 knots of wind under Race Officer Ciaran MacSweeney with Interantional Race Officer Jack Roy also on board the Committee Boat.
Race One was sailed on small sails to ease the fleet into it and Rope Dock Atara had a storming victory.
Overall leaders - Rob O'Leary and his crew in Dutch Gold from Baltimore Sailing Club lead but are tied on three points with Ropedock Atara Photo: Deirdre Horgan
Race Two saw the Q flag lowered, a strengthening tide and an unexpected increase in the breeze. With big sails on it was a monster of a race and with all bar one boat falling over, there was plenty of action.
Ropedock Atara (Ross McDonald/English) Photo: Deirdre Horgan
This time Robert O'Leary and crew took a convincing first with Atara second and they now share the points lead with a one, two each but with O'Leary winning the final race of the day he sits on top of the scoresheet under the tie-break rule.
T-Bone (Durcan/O'Shea) from RCYC
An early start this morning at 10:25 will see up to four races for the fleet.
A start at the 1720 AIB sponsored Southern Championships Photo: Deirdre Horgan
Results are here
