Cork Week Day 2: Scotland's J/122 'El Gran Senor' Takes Class One Lead (Photo Gallery)

17th July 2018

The wind gods smiled on the second day of Volvo Cork Week with a 15 knot southwesterly. Scroll down for day two photo gallery below Credit: Tim Wright.

100 teams were competing inshore for the second day of Volvo Cork Week today.

A long coastal race, in good breeze along the south coast, produced fantastic racing for classes IRC one, two and three.

Scroll down for Tim Wright photo gallery below

IRC One Cork Week The IRC One Class One start. Photo: Tim Wright

In IRC One, in the largest 'big boat' fleet of the season, Scottish and Northern Irish boats hold the top two positions in the nine boat fleet after two races sailed. Jonathan Anderson's J/122 El Gran Senor (Clyde Cruising Club) was today's winner and now leads overall. “I have been coming here for year's because it is always a good regatta,” commented Jonathan. “We were competing with the same team in Bangor a few weeks ago [where they were winners of IRC One – Ed], and we have a great crew. We have managed to beat Conor Phelan's Jump Juice in two races, which is a rarity, and there are plenty of well-sailed boats in the class.”

Second is race one winner, Jay Colville's Forty Licks with Greystones Sailing Club's Eleuthera skippered by Frank Whelan moving up to third overall.

Jelly Baby J109 Cork Week J109 Jelly Baby competing in Class Two Photo: Tim Wright

In IRC Two, Ronan Harris' J/109 Jigamaree (Royal Irish YC) corrected out to win by under a minute from yesterday's winner, Dunlop & Cox's J/109 Mojito (Pwllheli SC). “I am a Cork Week virgin.” admitted Ronan Harris. “I have a home in Baltimore and love to come and sail in West Cork. We are having a cracking battle with Mojito. We chose to duck them near the end of today's race, and it worked out for us, plus the crew did a good job getting us through the light airs patch near the finish.”

IRC Three Cork Week IRC Class Three go downwind Photo: Tim Wright

In IRC Three, Ronan & John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash (Royal Cork YC) won Race 2, crossing the finish line just four seconds ahead of Wright, Cronnelly & DeNeve's Corby 27 Kodachi (Howth YC). “The team did a good job today, especially on the beat where we can suffer against some of the boats in our class.” commented Ronan Downing. “I would say that the wind was up for most of the race, but there was one light patch where we positioned the boat well to get through.” Volvo Cork Week Chairman Kieran O'Connell is one of the crew on Miss Whiplash, Kieran was excused from boat wash down today, only on account of providing a case of Heineken for the team!

Congratulations to all of today's class winners including: Rory Fekkes's Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 (Carrickfergus SC), Denis Hewitt and Fintan Cairns on the Mills 36 Raptor (Royal Irish YC), Broadhead, Collins & Stuart's Sigma 38 Persistance (Royal Irish YC), Donal & O'Mahony's Loch Greine (Royal Cork YC), and Patrick Doherty's Tailte (NSYS & RCYC).

Volvo Cork Week continues tomorrow, Wednesday 18th July, with the scenic and tactically challenging Cork Harbour Race, and the start of the One Design Southern Championships for the 1720 Class and the International Dragons.

Full results are here.

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Published in Cork Week, Scottish Waters

Published in Cork Week

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Cork Week

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Bob Bateman

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