Irish sailors featured prominently on Day Two of the RORC Easter Challenge, as Cork Harbour’s Mark Mansfield called tactics aboard Jukebox. Wicklow’s Rumo Best was also part of the winning crew and is currently working with North Sails in Gosport.

Jukebox, skippered by John Smart, maintained a perfect record in IRC 3 with three more race wins in testing Solent conditions.

A gusty south-westerly breeze of 12 to 20 knots challenged crews on short windward-leeward courses set by Principal Race Officer Stuart Childerley. Performance hinged on adapting to fluctuating pressure and shifts across the race area.

At the post-race debrief, Olympian Vita Heathcote stressed the importance of reading conditions early. “One of the biggest lessons was making an honest assessment of the conditions,” she said. “Teams that recognised the lighter breeze early adapted better.” She also highlighted the impact of tidal changes and the advantage of committing early to the favoured side.

North Sails’ Jeremy Smart noted improved crew communication across the fleet. “The best crews were anticipating gusts early and staying ahead of the pressure,” he said.

Ruaridh Wright added that sail balance was critical. “We were looking for a better match between jib and mainsail to keep the boat moving and balanced,” he said.

Jukebox’s wins came after tight corrected-time margins. In Race 3, the J/109 secured victory by 30 seconds from Giovanni Belgrano’s Whooper. Races 4 and 5 followed a similar pattern, with narrow winning margins underscoring the fleet's competitiveness.

In IRC 1, David Franks’ J/112 Leon continued its dominant run, taking all three races with comfortable corrected-time margins. Racing concludes on Sunday with a final series in the Solent, followed by prize-giving at the Royal Ocean Racing Club Cowes clubhouse.