By the finish, the number of contenders in the Cork Week Classics on Thursday could be counted on the fingers of one un-mutilated hand, as overall points leader Bilou-Belle, a Dick Carter Tina design from the late 1960s, dropped out in frustration to leave just four boats to make it to the finish line, with Patrick Dorgan in the hyper-vintage Cork Harbour One Design Elsie getting a popular win both on the water and in the CT stakes, while the honour of the Dick Carter contingent from France was maintained by Persephone (Y Lambert) taking second and third went to Terry Birles with Erin.

Patrick Dorgan in the hyper-vintage Cork Harbour One Design Elsie Photo: Mary Malone

That useful third, however, is enough to have Erin leading overall on a scoreline of 4,2,4,3 for the week so far.

Terry Birles with Erin Photo: Bob Bateman