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Media
Information
4th July,
2006
BMW Round
Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 3
Light
winds have diminished record setting dreams
After three full days racing in the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race,
un-typically light winds around the 704-mile course have presented
additional challenges to the 37 boats in the competition. While
gear
failure and retirements due to rough weather have been avoided, the
race is
set to last longer than most boats have planned for.
The first 'casualty' of the conditions has been Stuart Thwaites’
Konica
Minolta Zana, the 98-footer from New Zealand that has led the fleet
from the
outset on Saturday afternoon at Wicklow. Just six knots of wind
passing
Malin Head, County Donegal the most northerly point of Ireland meant
the
super-maxi missed the crucial tidal gate at Rathlin Island.
Two records were up for grabs: the course record stands at 57 hours
and
race record set in 2005 by JP Chomette on City Jet Solune while Colm
Barrington's 1998 race record of 76 hours and 23 minutes is also
unbeaten.
Meanwhile, the battle for the overall win on handicap corrected time
is
being fought out by several smaller boats. Eamon Crosbie's, “Teng
Tools” that
is defending the 2004 title continues to feature in the latest
provisional
standings along with Aodhan Fitzgerald's Galway entry Ireland's
West.
Dun Laoghaire yacht Jeronimo is also on the top of the results and
has the
added edge of 1996 winner Michael Boyd on board with skipper Niall
Dowling.
Anthony Richards' Minnie the Moocher from the UK is in the hunt. In
the
2004 event, Richards saw his hopes of overall victory end on the
final
approach to the finish due to rudder bearing problems.
However, even these contenders may be disappointed as fresh winds
forecast
to reach those still at sea on Thursday morning may bring the
back-markers
up the course in faster time. Such an outcome might see Eric
Lisson's
Cavatina repeat her 2002 result when the Royal Cork YC boat won
overall.
For
information about the top boats you can call our hotline on 1540
933 269. Or you can receive twice-daily updates direct to your
phone
by subscribing to our exclusive text service by texting
BMW to 53307.
Follow the action all the way and logon to our website for GPS
Tracking of all the yachts. For more information about the race and
to
see the full list of Provisional Results please log on to our
website
at www.roundirelandyachtrace.ie/www.bmw.ie
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