D2D Wed, 730 pm - Ron O’Hanley’s highy-tuned Cookson 50 Turbo Privateer from America flies on, and was past the Tuskar Rock by 18:40 hours with the last of the sluicing ebb helping her to 17 knots. Although boats with special offwind potential such as the newer Sunfast 3600s and 3300s, like John O’Gorman’s 3600 Hot Cookie from Dun Laoghaire (briefly the overall IRC leader) and the 3300 Cinnamon Girl (Cian McCarthy, Kinsale YC) have had their moments of glory, as the 270-mile Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race progresses, the conditions are tending to average out, thereby eliminating the effect of localised areas of less wind.
But in a sunny nor’easter Ireland’s southeast corner is usually a breeze place, and with the added element of the turn of the tide approaching, Privateer’s position strengthens by the minute.
On down the fleet meanwhile, there have been intriguing changes in fortune.
And while Frank Whelan of Greystones and his crew have become more confident in sailing their relatively newly-arrived Elliott 57 Opal, not so very far astern is Andrew & Sam Hall from Pwllheli’s attractive J/125 Jackknife, romping along to lie second overall on IRC, but with less of the remaining tidal advantage in prospect at Tuskar.
The two early race stars, Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) and Pete Smyth’s Sunfast 3600 Searcher (NYC), are still very much in contention, with Searcher currently third, Rockabill VI fourth, Hot Cookie still going well at fifth, and Pwllheli’s Mojito the first of the J/109s at sixth.
But on current weather predictions, and with the first of the new flood tide going to hit the smaller boats at the Tuskar, Privateer is already looking like a done deal – she’s on course and on 18 knots south of the Saltees as we sign off this report at 19:30 hrs.