#roundirelandrecord – A 60-foot MOD 70 trimaran with Ireland's top offshore sailor Damian Foxall and an international crew on board is to attempt to break the Round Ireland speed record this week.

French sailor Sidney Gavignet will skipper Oman Sail, a MOD 70 that was last in Irish waters for the MOD70 European tour last September. As well as Foxall, Neal McDonald, Jean Francois Cuzon and Fahad Al Hasni are listed as crew.

FOR ROUND IRELAND OMANSAIL TRACKER CLICK HERE

The bid is sponsored by the Tourism ministry of Oman.

World Speed Sailing Record Commissioner Chris Moore, who is also the vice-commodore of Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) will officiate this latest attempt, possibly on March 20th but subject to weather. The plan, according to Moore, is to start and finish at the Kish lighthouse at the entrance to Dublin Bay using DBSC's new starting vessel Freebird.

This latest record attempt at the 700–mile course is 20 years since Steve Fossett's Lakota set the inaugural Round Ireland record. Back then Irish sailors Con Murphy and Cathy MacAleavey of the National Yacht Club were on board the catamaran.

The National Yacht Club is the keepr of records of Round Ireland speed record attempts for solo, monohull and multihull records.

In Early Sept 1993, the 60ft. trimaran 'Lakota' shattered the previous record for the fastest circumnavigation of Ireland by almost one full day.

Sailing with a crew of 5 – American co-skippers Steve Fossett and David Scully, English yachtsman Brian Thompson and Irish husband and wife team, Con Murphy and Cathy Mac Aleavey from the National Yacht Club – "Lakota" crossed the start line at the Kish in Dublin Bay on Wednesday, 8th September 1993 and headed North East, finishing at 09.12 on Friday 10th September, completing the course in 44 hours, 42 mins and 20 seconds, averaging 15.84 knots.

David Andrews, T.D., Minister for Defence and the Marine, presented the Cork Dry Gin Perpetual Challenge trophy for the record to Steve Fossett at a presentation dinner in the National Yacht Club on the 18th November 1993. The trophy remains with the National Yacht Club until there is a successful challenge to beat "Lakota's" time through some other sailing club or national authority.

More details on the current record attempt as we have it. Below some footage of Oman Sail at speed.

 

 

#roundireland – ICRA's Boat of the Year, the NUIG sailing team will talk on their Round Ireland 2012 class win at the Galway Bay Sailing Club this Wednesday (27th February 2012).

One the youngest crew to have competed in the Round Ireland Yacht Race the team talk takes place at GBSC in Oranmore at 8pm. All are welcome!

#rorc – The 2012 RORC Season's Points Championship came to a dramatic conclusion in Cherbourg in the early hours last Saturday morning when the two leading yachts from June's Round Ireland Yacht Race continued their battle for overall RORC honours.

278 yachts have competed in the ten race series, which was won overall by the smallest margin imaginable.

Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens, completed the 78-mile race to Cherbourg in less than eight hours to win the last race of the RORC Season's Points Championship.

Laurent Gouy's Ker 39, Inis Mor, claimed fifth overall in last Saurday's Cherbourg race to win the seven month series by a single place. If Inis Mor had come sixth, the championship would have gone to Tonnerre de Breskens for an unprecedented third season in a row.

Laurent Gouy explained about the atmosphere on board Inis Mor. "My father Bernard actually owns the boat and it was his birthday, so at midnight we all sang Happy Birthday to him in The Channel. Bernard has done every race except the Cowes Dinard and he was 69 during the race. It was a few hours after the finish that we knew we had won the season and it was a fantastic but a real surprise, we decided to race with the RORC this year to get better competition and we certainly got that. The battle with Tonnerre and Diablo-J was very close. We are very much looking forward to the RORC dinner, we will be there for sure, how could we not attend. Thank you to the RORC for a great season of racing."

"The Cherbourg Race didn't start well for us," admitted Piet Vroon. "We were over eager and with a downwind start we were early and had to go back, it didn't cost us much, maybe five minutes but we had to sail through the whole fleet to get into the lead. We had good wind through the night and on our approach to Cherbourg. We decided to just sail with nine rather than the usual twelve, as it looked like a light wind race and we couldn't have done any better. I was delighted to win the race and to finish first after starting last but to lose the championship by just one place was not so enjoyable! After hearing that Inis Mor had won, I was thinking about the season and maybe by competing at the IRC Nationals, Cork Week and Cowes Week, we took our minds away from this battle but I could not have asked any more from the crew, they have been magnificent all season."

Two former Commodores had an epic battle in IRC Two, Andrew McIrvine's First 40, La Réponse, won the race from Peter Rutter's Grand Soleil 43, Trustmarque Quokka, skippered by Philippe Falle. The two yachts enjoyed a close duel through the night with La Réponse crossing the line barely three minutes ahead to secure second place overall for the season.

In IRC Three Jean Pierre Kelbert and Pascal Loison's JPK 10.10, Leon, racing Two-Handed, took line honours and the win on corrected time. Nick Martin's fairy tale season came to an end racing his J/105, Diablo-J. A second place in the race secured the IRC Three and Two-Handed titles for the season and a magnificent third overall for the RORC Season's Points Championship. Diablo-J enjoyed a very close battle to Cherbourg with Christopher Palmer's J/109, J-T'Aime, which claimed third by just 13 seconds.

In IRC Four there was an emphatic win for Yacht club de Cherbourg's Figaro sailor, James Bruno. Racing his Sun Fast 3200, Le MC Do De Cherbourg, the local team took line honours for the class by over an hour. Jean Yves Chateau's Nicholson 33, Iromiguy, was second in the race and thereby securing second place overall for the season.

Whilst the RORC Season's Points Championship has come to a conclusion, many yachts that have competed in the championship will continue to race under IRC in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club including; the Rolex Middle Sea Race, The Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta and The ARC 2012.

The RORC Annual Dinner and Prizegiving will be held on the 10th November.

#sailorofthemonth – The latest Afloat.ie/Irish Independent "Sailor of the Month" awards reflect the hectic pace of sailing at all levels this year, with the Monthly Award going to gold medallists in Olympic campaigning, while the International Award is for a French sailing family with strong connections to Ireland's west coast.

Fortunately, although the overall result in the Volvo Race at Galway is already clearcut with Groupama unbeatable on the leaderboard, today's in-port race will mark the proper conclusion of an event which has confirmed its position as the world's premier offshore contest. So the Volvo racers are July's men, and we can pause for a moment to salute the stars of June.

The Olympics next month will mark the conclusion of a rugged buildup, a continuing story which becomes ever more challenging as the main event nears. But the performance by Peter O'Leary and David Burrows in the preliminary regatta, the Skandia Sail for Gold in June, was outstanding in itself.

In terms of winning, they were always there or thereabouts. And most importantly, they were perfectly poised to make the win move when the opportunity arose. It was a stellar performance, and their Gold Medal, snatched from competition of the calibre of Percy & Simpson of Britain and Scheidt & Prado of Brazil, marked a new high for Irish sailing.

For the first time since its inception in 1980, the biennial Round Ireland Race from Wicklow saw overseas competitors outnumber Irish boats, a reflection of the race's growing international importance. The invasion aroused mixed feelings, with its increased likelihood of a foreign winner. But in the end, the deserved victory by the French-owned Ker 39 Inis Mor was seen as a fine win by one of our own.

With his boat named after the largest of the Aran islands, Bernard Gouy proclaims his enthusiasm for the west of Ireland. The family has a holiday place in Connemara, and race for Clifden Boat Club. But they're also regular performers at the front of the fleet in RORC events in the English Channel, and Inis Mor will be expected to turn out for France in the Commodore's Cup at the end of this month.

Bernard Gouy's Round Ireland winner Inismor,  the winner of Afloat's International Sailor of the month award. Photo: Bob Bateman

However, their commitment to the Round Ireland race is nothing new. Before commissioning the present Inis Mor from designer Jason Ker, they campaigned a standard 40ft Jeanneau cruiser-racer and got into the frame. Their Round Ireland victory last weekend was the result of exemplary sailing and tactics throughout a very challenging race. It was textbook stuff, and we salute our International Award winners for showing the way.

#islandnation – A great maritime show in Galway, controversy after the Round Ireland in Wicklow, honouring the community of Union Hall, tougher inspection of cruise ships visiting Irish ports, hogging moorings on the inland waterways, aliens in the Royal Canal, a new fleet of currachs in Killybegs, the wearing of lifejackets and Cork Week, seafood and seaweed sausage and a Howth Lifeboat retirement - it is a busy time on the marine scene!

HONOURING THE PEOPLE OF UNION HALL

You could feel emotion in the fish auction hall on the quayside in Killybegs when the dark days of last January were recalled on Friday morning as Bill Deasy, one of the West Cork fishing village's community leaders, stood in front of compatriots from coastal areas all around Ireland. A few tears were quietly shed as the tragedy of the Tit Bonhomme trawler was recalled, but shining above it all was the memory of how the people of Union Hall rallied around those families from Ireland and Egypt in the search for bodies and showed what a maritime community can do.

The occasion was the presentation of the first 'Spirit of the Sea' Award, recognition of the "inspiration and selfless commitment" of the people of Union Hall in the dark days of the Tit Bonhomme trawler last January.

"Grief and sadness was palpable across the country with the tragedy resonating amongst the coastal communities. The inspiration provided by the people of Union Hall in pursuing the search to a successful conclusion was something that we should all be proud of," said the Editor of the national fishing paper, The Marine Times, when he presented the award to Bill Deasy at the Fish Ireland Exhibition who accepted it on behalf of Union Hall.

"The dedication and compassion of the community inspired the creation of the award for which there was unanimous support from fishing ports all over Ireland," said Mark McCarthy. "It is not only dedicated to them but was inspired by them."

Later this month the Union Hall community are to unveil their own memorial in the village to all who have died at sea.

The concept of national awards in the maritime sphere is, I think, worth pursuing to raise public awareness of marine matters. It was good to see the Union Hall community honoured.

 

A GREAT SHOW IN GALWAY

The people of Galway have once again shown that their city deserves to be a maritime capital. It would have been hard to imagine that they could surpass what they did the last time the Volvo Ocean Race called, but they did. Despite the bad weather which has dogged Ireland this summer 20,000 people was the number put on those who, in the early hours of the morning, welcomed the Volvo Race fleet. It can be truly said that no other city has shown the backing to this event as has the City of the Tribes.

I am delighted that the mainstream general media has at last recognised Damian Foxall from Kerry as an international sporting icon. After fifteen years and four attempts in the Volvo Race, he has earned the overall winners' podium on the crew of the French yacht, Groupama. It was appropriate that his colleagues stood back to let him take the plaudits from the attendance in Galway.

Let us also not forget our other Irish sailing icon, Justin Slattery from Cork, also an overall Volvo winner as bowman on the Dutch entry ABN Amro One which was the overall victor in 2005-2006.

It is time that there was public appreciation in Ireland of these sailing stars who are far more deserving, in my view, than the approbation given to overseas footballers' and who are also far more approachable, courteous and personable. Well done to Damian, to Justin, to all the sailors in the Volvo Race and all those behind the great show in Galway.

 

INLAND WATERWAYS

Driving back from Killybegs I stopped in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday afternoon, which was a revelation of how busy the maritime sphere can be inland. It was throbbing, busy, boats moving, lots of people around strolling along the riverbank on what was, for once, a nice sunny afternoon which would make you want to be on the water. It was good to see. Carrick-on-Shannon is a town which has paid attention to its maritime resources and is benefiting from that.

I hired a boat a few years ago there for a week on the inland waterways and thoroughly enjoyed. In most weather conditions you could move and the riverside towns and villages were always welcoming.

However, sometimes boat people are not welcoming to others and this is a disappointment. Waterways Ireland is getting tougher about "mooring hoggers" who have blocked up harbours and denied visitors access. It has been successful in prosecutions for breaches of a 48-hour mooring Bye-law in Lough Erne. I was told in Carrick-on-Shannon of instances where visiting boats at different locations along the waterways had alleged they had been denied the facility of mooring alongside boats already in harbour and that some had thereby felt forced back out into unsuitable weather. That this should happen is appalling and creates a potentially dangerous situation.

 

ROUND IRELAND PROTEST

Galway added to its sailing prowess when the Clifden Boat Club was declared overall winner of the Round Ireland Race in which members had sailed a Ker 39, Inis Mor. With the students of NUI Galway winning Class 1 that made a dual success for the West in the week in which Galway has taken centre place in the sailing world.

There is controversy about other aspects of the race, though it will not affect the overall winners. This will have to be resolved at a hearing after the organising race committee from Wicklow Sailing Club lodged a protest against Green Dragon, the former Irish entry in the Volvo Race, under sailing's Rule 47. This requires a yacht to start and finish with the same number of crew.

The race committee told me that the listed Skipper, well-known sailor Enda O'Coineen left the yacht at the Fastnet. It was first back to Wicklow, followed by the Dutch entry Tonnerre de Breskens, sailed by Piet Vroon who was defending his title. Explanations given by Green Dragon for the departure of the Skipper during racing didn't satisfy the race committee. There are provisions for a crew member to leave and I am told that Enda O'Coineen has indicated he will be defending his situation. A protest date has not yet been set.

 

ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR BARRY

Amidst all the coverage of the Volvo Race in Galway, another great achievement by Cobh sailor Barry Hurley did not get a lot of attention. Sailing alone in his JOD 35 Dinah, the accomplished single-hander won the first Round Rockall race from Galway. It was a tough 750-mile voyage to be on your own. Barry who takes pride in his native 'Holy Ground' in Cork Harbour sent this self-portrait from Dinah having rounded Rockall. Two years ago he won the transAtlantic OSTAR Race to America.

 

BLESSING THE CURRACHS IN KILLYBEGS

The most unusual thing I have been asked to do as a Marine Correspondent is to bless boats! This happened at Killybegs on Saturday afternoon when I was handed a bottle of holy water to bless the boats and wish them a safe future as the fleet was launched from the pier in the fishing town. Built in a community project they are very impressive. As I have been writing in this column, the currach is a superbly designed boat. Neily Gallagher who ran the project told me all about it and I also met the great builder and expert on currachs Owny Diver from Gola Island. A lovely occasion to be involved with.

 

CRUISE OPERATORS CONSIDER IRISH THREAT

Cruise ship visits are an important economic tourism boost to several ports including Cork, but there are indications that operating companies are examining what effects will result from the statement by the Maritime Safety Office that safety checks on their vessels are to be intensified when they call to Irish ports. This is in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster. According to reports this week checks of safety and crew ability to handle evacuation will be stepped up. They are already regarded as quite tough here. While there should be no compromise on safety, it is to be hoped that there will not be an over-zealous approach which might damage this valuable shipping business.

An inquiry report into the Costa Concordia disaster is due in the middle of this month. There are unconfirmed reports about equipment not being in proper working order aboard the ship, including the 'black box' which should record conservations amongst officers on the bridge and navigational equipment, as well as suggestions that safety doors were left open rather than being closed at sea. The company has denied the Italian newspaper reports, so the release of the investigation report will be interesting to see.

 

WEARING LIFEJACKETS

As I watched the photographs of trawlers which had sunk with loss of life, washed up on rocks, or just disappeared, I looked at the faces of others watching the screen display, fishermen who go to sea in this most dangerous and challenging of occupations and women and children of fishing families. It was a reminder that the sea can never be taken casually.

John Leech Chief Executive of the Irish Water Safety Association was making a compelling, thought-provoking presentation at the FISH IRELAND exhibition in Killybegs where I interviewed him as part of a public series. He showed slides of the various fishing accidents and spoke about the subsequent loss of life over recent years. Very direct in pointing out to fishermen and their families the tragic consequences of not wearing lifejackets, he stressed how much more user-friendly they are these days. John's message, for all leisure boat users as well as fishermen is - be safe on the water - think of the family and wear a lifejacket. There are reminders of fishing tragedies all over the coast.

 

CORK WEEK

The overall entry for Cork Week is smaller than in previous years, 105 boats at the time of writing, an indicator of the economic times. The RCYC organisers have responded with some new courses, a new layout for the Race Village and say the entry may be smaller but the quality is good.

Next Friday will provide a nice public spectator opportunity for the "Cobh race" as it is known during Cork Week. All classes taking part will be combined to race around a turning mark off Cobh which, allowing always for the weather, will be a good opportunity for spectators to see sail racing and, hopefully, lots of spinnakers being raised to add colour to the spectacle.

 

MY FIRST SEAFOOD SAUSAGE

This week I ate my first seafood sausages of salmon and haddock which came from Kilmore Quay and were bought on their first delivery to a Cork supermarket! Very tasty. Four big sausages for €4.99 and well worth the price. I am told, if ever I get the chance, to try seaweed sausages that are

"amazing" and are in some shops, though I haven't seen them yet.

 

HOWTH RNLI RETIREMENT

The maritime community in Howth have paid tribute to George Duffy who has retired after 44 years with the RNLI where he was Mechanic for 25 years and also had been Deputy Coxswain to his younger brother, Robert. There is a strong family involvement with the Howth lifeboat. His youngest brother, Michael, is also an RNLI volunteer.

 

SCOTLAND SHOWING THE WAY

The UK Government has done an about-turn on its decision not to provide funding for an emergency towing vessel in Scotland after pressure from the Scottish Parliament. Under new arrangements a Scottish ETV will work with the UK Coastguard. The Scottish are really pushing forward the maritime aspect of their governmental responsibilities. They have also made big advances in getting back some of their fisheries controls. The provision of emergency towing vessel facilities in Ireland does not bear comparison, nor does the approach to protecting and developing our own fisheries. The UK Government in London may be taking an example from the Scottish in maritime initiatives. It has pressured the EU Commission into examining funding support for the development of British inland waterways for use by commercial freight traffic.

 

ALIENS ON THE ROYAL CANAL

Inland Fisheries Ireland has removed a turtle from the Royal Canal near Mullingar in County Westmeath. It seems the 30 cm. red-eared slider turtle may have been around for some time and been a nuisance to anglers by persistently taking their bait! This species is native to southern USA waters apparently and how it got to Mullingar is unknown so far, but there is suspicion that it may have become an unwanted pet that was dumped.

IFI is monitoring the stretch of the canal involved, though it is hoped this may be a one-off instance. If not there could be other repercussions for marine life there. The turtle has been removed to "another suitable location."

 

YOUTH SAILING AND ATLANTIC CHALLENGE

After the Volvo and Cork Week, young sailors will dominate the sport at Dun Laoghaire from July 12-21 at the International Sailing Federation's Youth World Championships and the Fastnet International Schools' Regatta will follow at Schull in West Cork from July 23 to 26.

Also in West Cork young people will take centre stage in Bantry from July 21-29 at the Atlantic Challenge.

You can follow me for more marine news and comment on Twitter: @TomMacSweeney

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#roundireland – As predicted by www.afloat.ie it looks increasingly likely as if Piet Vroon's Ker 46 Tonnerre de Breskens 3 will follow in the footsteps of the legendary Moonduster, by winning successive Round Ireland Races.

While the final few miles are painfully wet, misty and slow, particularly on Green Dragon, it is likely that Tonnerre will cross the finishing line at the turn of the tide around 0730 this morning.  This elapsed time of about 3 days 19 hours and 30 minutes will correct to 4 days 18 hours setting a tough target for the chasing pack.

DOWNLOAD THE PREDICTOR AS A PDF BELOW

Tonnerre, who struggled a bit at the top end of the North Channel, sailed a good race down the Irish Sea, maintaining pace with the much faster Green Dragon for a long period.  Her standing was enhanced considerably by the bad luck of long time leader Inis Mor, who, along with Noonmark VI and Maxvmg Fortissimo, encountered strong adverse tides and a period of calm.

Not that it's all over yet, far from it.  As the www.afloat.ie exclusive table shows (download attachment below as a pdf), there is still an opportunity for a number of boats to overtake Tonnerre. Inis Mor is the leading candidate, but Cavatina, Sgrech and NUI Galway all have an outside chance. To do so they will need  a number of things –stronger wind, minimal distance and luck with the tides.  Unfortunately, while they will enjoy freshening winds, it is the direction that is likely to kill off the challenge. Southerly forecasts mean it will be a noser for the rest of the way to Wicklow, forcing boats to beat to the finish, increasing the rhumb line distance.

So, with the battle continuing for the minor placings and class honours, it looks like another great success for Piet Vroon and his team, and possible heartbreak once again for Bernard Guoy and the Inis Mor crew.  Whatever the outcome, 200 or so tired and hungry sailors will remember this one for a long time to come.

The www.afloat.ie exclusive predictor shows that Inis Mor, if she can maintain the average speed to date, can catch Tonnerre.  All of the other boats have to improve on their average to date.

#roundireland – Inis Mor, Tonnerre and Noonmark VI are still podium boats as the fleet races across the North coast but the outcome of the next 24 hours may well decide the 2012 Round Ireland race.

While often the graveyard for Round Ireland success, the tide in the North Channel can not only be a boost to progress over the ground but can also boost a boat up the leaderboard.  The trick is to have the luck to arrive at the east side of Rathlin close to Low Water Dover and ride the flood as far as the wind permits.  If the stars align, the 68 mile passage to South Rock can be done in one tide and the lucky yacht will avoid adverse tides in the North part of the Irish Sea.

Unfortunately for Green Dragon and Tonerre, it looks like they are nearly 100% out of phase and are heading over towards the Mull of Kintyre to benefit from lesser tide on the Scottish side of the North Channel.  The news isn't much better for the handicap leaders either, some 50 miles to the west, as with the lessening breeze they are down to less than three knots. At the moment it is looking good for the chasing pack some 80 miles further back, but making speeds in excess of 6 knots.  But the pack looks sure to encounter the lighter winds before too long.

The variable factors and a fleet spread from Rathlin to Loop Head, render leaderboards and predictions extremely unreliable. Inis Mor, Tonnerre and Noonmark VI are still the podium boats at this stage and if they can get through the light patch, may be able to hang on until the finish in Wicklow, but notable movers behind are NUI Galway, Sgrech, Aquelina and, with a sense of inevitably, two time winner Cavatina.

The light airs will be creating extreme frustration amongst the leaders and with no major increase in wind speed in the future, thoughts of food rationing may well be entering the sailor's minds.

It's going to be an interesting 24 to 36 hours! Check back with afloat.ie during today for the very latest leaderboard news.

Meanwhile here's the estimated leaderboard at 20.30 last night (Tuesday) with corrected handicap time lapse on leaders shown in days: hours: minutes: 

1 Inis Mor
2 Tonnerre de Breskens 3. 00 days: 00 hours: 46 minutes
3 Lee Overlay Partners 00:03:12
4 Noonmark VI 00:03:26
5 NUI Galway 00:10:00
6 Maxvmg Fortissimo 00:10:30
7 Sgrech 00:10:56
8 Spirit of Jacana 00:11:00
9 Diablo-j 00:11:01
10 Fastrak VIII 00:11:37
11 Jedi 00:11:45
12 Visit Malta Puma 00:11:50
13 Joker 2 00:12:01
14 Fujitsu 00:12:46
15 Aquelina 00:13:30
16 LC Tyres Lulabelle 00:13:31
17 IOSS- Desert Star 00:13:46
18 Pyxis 00:13:47
19 Cavatina 00:14:07
20 Wild Spirit 00:14:42
21 Twister 00:14:53
22 Persistance 00:14:57
23 Exhale 00:17:10
24 Cracklin' Rosie 00:17:20
25 EOS 00:17:33
26 Adelie 00:18:05
27 Midnight Mojito 00:18:22
28 Nunatak 00:19:11
29 Lancasrtian 00:20:11
30 Legally Blonde 00:20:26
31 Green Dragon 00:20:31
32 Pink Panter 00:22:47
33 Team Wild Goose 00:23:23
34 English Mick 01:03:14
35 Sarnia 01:05:48
36 Ocean Tango 01:09:55

#roundireland – Inistrahull, or more accurately, Tor Rocks, a sea mile or so to the north, is the most northerly point on the Round Ireland Race Course rhumb line. Green Dragon, saddled with the burden of being the biggest boat in the race, was once again struggling to get deeper as the wind backed into the southwest as she rounded at 1930 this evening.  Not only was the direction unfavourable but she now faces lighter breezes entering the tidally challenging North Channel.

DOWNLOAD CURRENT 9pm Tuesday LEADERBOARD BELOW

Behind her, the battle for overall leader continues with Tonnerre De Breskens briefly taking over from Inis Mor, which has lead almost from the start.  However, the initial gains may well be all for nought, as the bulk of the fleet, off the Connemara coast, are enjoying stronger breezes, and catching the bigger boats rapidly.  It is one of the delights of this great race that  it can start and restart several times along the coast and the Rathlin/North Channel tidal gate could well determine the overall honours.

While it means little to publish the current leaderboard, the table below shows that the leading group have stretched out a bit, while there is considerable bunching with only two hours separating 9th and 22nd. No doubt many of the yachts will suffer from a hole or two over the next 24 hours or so and we may well see some anchoring during the same period.

So, while the Irish Open Golf competitors can look forward to low scores as the fleet heads past the Portrush course, the Round Ireland sailors will not be setting any records this time

#roundireland – (Monday morning, June 25th). There is an element of déjà vu about the early leaderboard as the yachts make slow progress along the south coast in the 2012 Round Ireland Yacht Race.  Inis Mor, second in 2010, leads on corrected time from Noonmark VI with the 2010 winner Tonnerre de Breskens III in third place.

Light and variable head winds make this edition very unpredictable at this early stage, and it is unlikely that we will see any clear definition until the larger boats round Blackrock on the Mayo coast sometime on Tuesday.

Top rated boat and on-the-water leader, the Volvo 70 Green Dragon, took a more offshore route down the Irish Sea, tacking well south of the Tuskar before tacking back out again at the Hook.  The extra distance covered has not served her well and as she leads the fleet past the Old Head this morning, she lies 21st on corrected time.

NUI Galway crew work hard after the start yesterday. Photo: Bob Bateman

As is usual in the early stages, the faster boats tended to benefit from passing the Tuskar before the stronger flood tide set in and consequently dominated the early leaderboard.  However, lighter heading winds balanced the equation and the medium sized boats have started to progress up the correct time rankings.  Notable among these are Kirsten Donaldson's X332 Pyxis, Liam Coyne's Beneteau 36.7 LC Tyres Lulabelle from the host club and James Tyrell's Aquelina – the J122 from Arklow Sailing Club.

Although light winds prevail, there is good gusts near rain showers, here's Scottish entry EOS (an Elan 310) skippered by Rod Stuart going well after the start. Photo: Bob Bateman

Two-time Winner Cavatina (Granada 38), skippered this time by Royal Cork's Ian Hickey, lies mid fleet after taking the offshore route, but is enjoying some breeze advantage over those boats that stayed inshore.  Whether this will last long enough to overcome the greater distance sailed, is yet to be seen.

Double winner Cavatina is in a mid fleet position this morning but there is still 600 miles to go. Photo: Bob Bateman

With most boats still having 600 mile to the finish, it would be foolhardy to predict finishing times and finishing order – like all Round Ireland races it won't be over until the  bar in Wicklow Sailing Club is adorned by a large lady exercising her vocal chords.

Stay tuned for Afloat's next Round Ireland update this evening. 

Meanwhile a selection of photos from yesterday's Round Ireland start from Gareth Craig are in our gallery below

#RoundIreland– Sole Dutch entry Tonnerre de Breskens skippered by Piet Vroon looked every inch the defending champion when she won the reaching start of a crowded Round Ireland start line in Wicklow this afternoon. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS BY BOB BATEMAN.

Vroon took six or seven gybes for more breeze before reaching Wicklow head just minutes after the start.

The Dutch yacht , a Ker 46, was followed closely by Laurent Gouy's Ker 39 Inismor and the J133 Spirit of Jacana from Carrickfergus. Also taking the route closest to the shore was Adrian Lee's canting keel Cookson 50 Lee Overlay.

Legendary Irish round the world yacht Green Dragon (the biggest in the fleet) took advantage of the light to medium north westerly winds to hoist a spinnaker and went immediately offshore to clearer air after a congested start of the 2012 Round Ireland Yacht Race start.  There was at least one collision at the committee boat end of the line just moments before the gun.

The start of the 2012 Round Ireland. Photo: Bob Bateman

The international 38 boat Round Ireland fleet departed as per schedule at noon, ahead of them up to a week long 700-mile sailing odyssey all the way round the coast of Ireland.

The fleet were tightly packed at Wicklow head on a shy port reach with most setting spinnakers.

Old warhourse and double race winner Cavatina took up her position at the rear of the fleet, settling in for her first night at sea and the first tactical challenge presented at Tuskar rock.

Next Round Ireland fleet update tomorrow morning as the fleet move along the Cork Coast