J/109 BLUEJAY Winning Nationals
(Cork, Ireland)- As if by magic, sublime, almost Mediterranean weather, arrived for the first day of Cork Week 2010. Sunshine and a moderate breeze of 10-15 knots from the southeast, gave competitors a day to remember. Racing for all classes commenced with few delays and there were some happy sailors returning to the dock this afternoon, having had a spectacular day on the water.Eighteen J/109s are competing at Cork Week for the J/109 European Championship and they enjoyed some fantastic racing so far. On the first day, Robert O'Leary, steering JEROBOAM, got a cracking start, right under Weavers Point, they went on to win the race by over two minutes. Steven Tapper's STALKER was second and Jonathan & Andrea Tithecott's JUDGEMENT DAY taking third. To date, the top three is tight with Greg Burgess's BLUEJAY is winning with a 4-2-1 record, leading Rob O'Leary's JEROBOAM by just two points with a 1-3-5 tally and Brian Moreton's JUKE BOX by two more points with a 7-1-3 score.
IRC Class Zero has some exceptionally close racing and hanging out in the top ten are the two J/133s sailing the event against a hot class of IRC specialists. Neil Martin's J/133 JAMMY DODGER and Jackie and Robert Dodson's JERONIMO are in contention with at least three races to go...and anything goes in this class so far with boats racing up and down the standings daily.IRC Class One has a tight race for the top three and with a few good races left, Sheila and James Tyrerell's J/122 AQUELINA is in the hunt to garner a top five finish.
IRC Class Three has a donnybrook shaping up between two J/35s and an X332. John Moorehead and Chris Ferres are racing their J/35 BENGAL MAGIC incredibly well and are leading the fleet with a fleet dominating three firsts! Lying third at the moment a scant half point off second is the other J/35, Dermot Cronin's MUMBO. With three races to go, perhaps BENGAL MAGIC will throw down the gauntlet, bet a few more pints of tasty Irish ale (or whiskey?) and see whether or not they can run the table with straight firsts!
IRC Class Six has the J/24s participating and Flor O'Driscoll's J/24 HARD ON PORT is currently second with a 2-2-3-2 record.
Catch up with us next week to get a summary of the results, see if the J/122s, J/133s or J/35s prevailed in the "new" Costa del Sol Cork Race Week and to figure out who rose above the ashes and wreckage of the battle field to be crowned J/109 European Champion. For more CORK Week sailing results. Sailing Photo credits: Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com