#sb20 – Trench warfare is best used to describe the fight going on at the front of the SB20 Sportsboat fleet for Day 2 of the nationals on Belfast Lough. There is no letup whatsoever between Mel Collins and Ben Duncan battling it out for first place. Duncan with Brian Moran and Joe Turner aboard leading at the end of the day by a slim 2 point difference to Royal Cork Yacht Clubs Mel Collins, Aidan MacSweeney and Kieran Dorgan. Duncan came out of the blocks to win race 1 with Collins 2nd. Collins squeezing a narrow margin in race two over Duncan to score a extremely consistent 2nd to Duncan's 3rd. With discards now applied Duncan's score is 1,1,1,3 and Collins 2,2,2,2. All to play for.
Local boat Ross & Andrew Vaughan with John Driscoll winning race 2 to keep them well within the hunt for a podium finish. Some fine performances from class newcomers Ger Dempsey and Chris Nolan on venues-world.com will see the Westerns silver fleet winners vying for a top 5 result.
Winds on the lough increased to 30 knots gradually over the day forcing Race Officials to abandon racing for race 3 but not before some thrilling downwind action with boats reporting 20 knots speeds to the leeward mark.
Racing continues Sunday with 2 races scheduled.