The Royal St. George Yacht Club Jaguar Sailing Team of Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelmann and John Simms lead overall by three points going into the final two races of the Dragon class Edinburgh Cup in Falmouth today.
The only Irish contestants at the British Championships scored a three and a four to take the lead from Andy Beadsworth's Provezza Dragon.
Race three started with a cloudy NNW breeze and a keen TUR 1212 and GBR 764 were called over the line. Dragons were noticeably picking either the left or right of the course for their long tack.
The windward mark made for exciting viewing as the main pack of Dragons all converged, in breeze and current, to make the spreader mark.
The dark blue hull of Bluebottle edged forward to take the race three win ahead of Jerboa GBR 761. Third place in the race went to Richard Davies’ Flotation GBR 790 after a superb display of shift selection and downwind sailing. Hot on the heels were Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 and Pageboy XI GBR 792 in fourth and fifth.
As the Dragons prepared for the start of race four the wind swung more to the North and increased and combined with a disturbed sea saw all sailors on the side heading up the first beat.
Fei-Lin’s Flirtation GBR 633 picked the winning side of the racecourse and after the second downwind leg had opened a considerable lead. It was safe to say everyone was happy to see Ron and his stunning Dragon take the race win.
A consistent race from GBR 761 saw them take another second place and a firm position in the top five. IRL 201 went one better securing third place with GBR 763 and TUR 1212 crossing in fourth and fifth places.
Martin Byrne said after racing “I am optimistic for the next races. We have remained consistent, but it is remarkably close racing. We still have some work to do and will give it all we have till the end.”
Everyone is interested to see how the day pans out and how the scoreboard is shuffled around once the discard is applied. Anyone of four boats has the potential to take the Edinburgh Cup. Could Graham Bailey win his fourth Edinburgh Cup in Bluebottle, or Andy Beadsworth take his first win as a helm, it could go to SW Champions Jaguar Racing Team, or team Jerboa attain their first win and only the second time a lady helm has won the Cup.
Top five Edinburgh Cup overall results after four races sailed and no discard
1st Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 Martin Byrne Royal St George YC16.0
2nd Provezza Dragon TUR 1212 Andy Beadsworth Bodrum Offshore SC 19.0
3rd Bluebottle GBR 192 Graham Bailey Royal Yacht Squadron 21.0
4th Fei-Lin’s Flirtation GBR 633 Ronald James Royal Forth YC 24.0
5th Jerboa GBR 761 Gavia Wilkinson-Cox Royal Torbay YC 26.0
