The first day of the Investwise SB3 Nationals at Howth witnessed the top local boat 'Sharkbait' (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran/Ric Morris) enjoy a dream start to the 8-race series with two bullets in the first two races, followed by a 6th to head the 48-boat fleet by four points from the almost-as-consistent Stefan Hyde/Jerry Dowling/Jimmy Dowling) in 'Bad' from the Royal Irish YC.
Sailing in moderate to fresh south-easterlies, the big fleet started racing around 1300 hrs. and 'Sharkbait' was fast out of the blocks, winning the race from 'Bad' and with another Dun Laoghaire entry 'Yeti' (Sean Craig/Stephen Boylan/Alan Green) filling third spot.
Race two saw the Howth crew maintain their top form to register a second successive win, again ahead of Stefan Hyde et al on 'Bad' and with Ross Vaughan of RNIYC in third place.
The two leaders dropped a little in the last race of the day, with Duncan and crew in 6th and Hyde two places further behind while the line honours went to Brian/Reilly/Paul Reilly/Johnny O'Dowd on 'Boomsticks' to add to their 4th and 8th in the earlier races.
Ominously, the pre-event favourite 'McCreadys Gill Racing Team' helmed by Gareth Flannigan from Royal Ulster YC improved as the day went on, building on an 8th and 6th to finish second, a result that puts them 5th overall and within striking distance of the leaders.
Illustrating the competitive natural of one-design racing, only eight points separates the first five boats after three races and the three races scheduled for Saturday are likely to have a significant bearing on the title contenders going into the final day on Sunday.
Investwise SB3 National Championships – overall after 3 races:
1st Sharkbait (Ben Duncan) – HYC 8 points
2nd Bad (Stefan Hyde) – RIYC 12 points
3rd Boomsticks (Brian Reilly) - SYC 13 points
4th Yeti (Sean Craig) – RStGYC 13 points
5th McCready's Gill Racing Team(Gareth Flannigan) – RUYC 16 points
6th Monkey (Aidan O'Connell) – RStGYC 19 points