It was a drama–filled second race day of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League when near gale force winds swept through today's coastal course race writes Bob Bateman.
The three boats competing in Class Zero were reduced to two when Conor Doyle's XP50 Freya split her jib at the harbour mouth forcing her retiral.
Southwesterly winds at Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour were averaging 24 knots but gusting to over thirty.
Prior to that, the zero start was postponed when Conor Phelan's Jump Juice fouled the pin end buoy of the start line and had to be freed and the line reset.
In a separate incident, in class one, the rail or rail wire on Paul Tingle's XP33 Alpaca gave way and some of her hiking crew ended up in the water but were all recovered safely.
Race officer Peter Crowley sent classes 0,1,2,3,4 on a coastal course starting close to Whitegate. Zero went to Daunt, Smiths, W1, No.5 with a finish at Cage.
Class 1and 2 went to W1, Power Head, Ringabella, No.5 and a finish at Cage
Classes 3 and 4 got a shorter course out to Ringabella Harp and finish at Cage.
Race Officer David O'Brien sent the white sail division to Ringabella, Harp mark, back to W1, no 5 and finish at Cage. White Sail One got a slightly longer course but in the same area.
The 1720s sailed on the Harbour's Eastern Bank.
Results are here