With one final race to be sailed on Sunday, multiple champion Lawrie Smith holds a nine-point lead at the Irish Dragon National Championships on Dublin Bay.
The Olympian and America's Cup skipper – who took a 1, 2 on Saturday – had a slip in race three's windward-leeward course on Friday when he counted a ten in the 28-boat fleet but has been otherwise showing most consistent form with five results in the top two.
Sailing with Ruairidh Scott, Martin Wrigley and James Taylor of Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, Smith has a nine-point lead over the Japanese entry of Peter Gilmour, Yasuhiro Yaji and Sam Gilmour, who are on 17 points. Lying third is Britain's YeahNah, which Peter Cooke sails with Torvar Mirsky, Peter Nicholas, and Cork Harbour's Harry Durcan on 24.
As Afloat reported previously, the Irish event is part of the international class's European Grand Prix Circuit.
Royal St. George's Phantom sailed by Neil Hegarty, Peter Bowring and David Williams lie 15th having retired from Saturday's race six of the Irish Dragon National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
A restored vintage Irish wooden Dragon, Titan sailed by British professional Andy Beadsworth with Ben Cooke and Justin Heap of the host club, tops the 13-boat Irish cohort in ninth place.
Pedro Rebelo de Andrade of Portugal considers his options on Saturn with Miguel Leitmann, Martin Westerdahl of Capable Planet Sailing Club at the Irish Dragon National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
Smith, the current Edinburgh Cup and Gold Cup champion, is among some big international names on the Bay this weekend before the fleet competes at September's Gold Cup in Kinsale. Only one amateur crew make it into the top ten: Britain's Simon Barter, Donald Wilks, and Alistair Barter, who are in tenth place.
Racing concludes with a final race on Sunday where more strong and blustery south-west winds off the south Dublin shoreline are forecast.
