The third race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's AIB-sponsored Autumn League was sailed in the shadow of a gale warning today, with all fleets completing a single blustery race in Cork Harbour.
After three races sailed – and no discard applied so far there is a clear leader in IRC Spinnaker Division One.
Visiting J109 crew Artful Dodger from Kinsale under skipper Finbarr O'Regan has a 2.5-point lead over Eric & Wan Waterman's X37 Saxon Senator from the host club. The Waterman brothers are tied on nine points with the host club's Jones Family sailing the J122, Jelly Baby for second place.
Results are provisional following today's third and single race under Race Officer Anthony O'Leary.
Following a Committee Boat start to the dognose mark in 12 to 16 knots, all fleets sailed course 93, but with the breeze increasing to 20 knots, Class two and White Sail divisions ended up with a shortened course.
Although Swuzzelbubble leads overall in IRC Spinnaker Two division, the Dave & James Dwyer Half Tonner had to be content with second in today's race as Michael McCann's appropriately named Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally surfed past Swuzzelbubble at the finish line. Overall the Dwyers count five points so far with Conor Phelan's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge second on 11 and McCann a point further back in third.
A seven-boat 1720 fleet raced on the Curlane bank.
In a competitive outing in IRC One White Sails division, Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet on six points leads RCYC clubmates Frank Caul and John Molloy's Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides also on six.
Aidan Heffernan's Dufour 36 Indulgence is two points off the lead in this place in the eight-boat fleet.
Racing continues next Sunday.