The first Dragon Gold Cup race was cancelled today when northwesterly winds gusted to over 30 knots off Kinsale.
International Race Officer Con Murphy sent the 62-boat fleet back to Kinsale Yacht Club.
It's the second cancellation of the programme with Saturday's practice race scrubbed due to a lack of wind.
Big wind, big waves on the way out to the start of the first race of the Dragon Gold Cup at Kinsale that was later abandoned. See gallery of images below Photo: Bob Bateman
Murphy says the forecast wind for Monday looks good for racing, and he intends to schedule two races, with a first warning signal at 11:25.
Dragon Gold Cup Day One Cancellation Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman
Murphy had briefed competitors that the forecast was for plenty of wind, but that he would attempt to achieve racing for them if at all possible. As the fleet headed out of the River Bandon to the open sea the wind and waves were already building. There was an initial hope that conditions may abate a little, but by 13.00 it was blowing a steady 25 knots with heavy gusts, and the decision was made to fly N over H and send the fleet home.
IDA Championship Coordinator Martin Payne, who is working with Con Murphy on the committee boat talked us through their decision-making process. “All this year, the weather forecasts have been under predicting what the wind strength will be. We took the fleet out there and we were expecting a maximum of 23 knots, but at one stage we were getting gusts of 30. The sea state was quite rough, and all the Dragons could see for themselves how bad it was. We waited until the scheduled start, and we still had gusts on the deck of the boat of over 25 knots. So the race officer decided that with a good forecast for Monday and the possibility of two races, we should cut the day today. At a Gold Cup you have to cater for everyone in the fleet, older boats, very young sailors, and to start the first race off in crazy conditions is not the spirit of the Gold Cup.”
After a very long and wet beat home, the crews repaired to the warm embrace of the Kinsale Yacht Club where Yanmar’s post racing drinks and delicious free hot pasta and garlic bread were much appreciated.
