Media Information

7th July, 2006

 

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 6

Outcome is hanging on a thread as last boats to come in

 

 

The outcome of the BMW Round Ireland Race was hanging by a thread last night

(Friday) after more than six days of racing on the 704-mile course.  More

than half the 39-boat fleet had arrived back at Wicklow Sailing Club by

nightfall but all eyes were turned seawards in anticipation of one finisher.

 

The started with a cluster of yachts that arrived with new wind that had

been so desperately missed by the fleet since starting at Wicklow last

weekend and while the breeze was welcome, it was of little use to the

biggest boats racing who were heavily penalised for their slow race.

 

That shifted the emphasis towards the smaller entries and onto a group of

half a dozen crews which had all featured prominently on provisional

standings calculated at key check-in points around the coast.

 

Niall Dowling's Jeronimo from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire

and Anthony Richard's Minnie the Moocher from Britain arrived in the early

hours of the morning, both keenly aware of the pursuing pack.  Then it

Aodhan Fitzgerald's Galway team on Ireland's West that finished at 8.15am.

 

But it was defending course champion Eamon Crosbie on the 32 footer Teng

Tools that held the unofficial 'clubhouse' leader since 9.14 am as the

handicaps repositioned the finishers in corrected time order.

 

For a time after Crosbie finished, expectation was running high that George

Radley's 1980 classic 40-footer Imp would reach Wicklow by lunchtime to take

over the handicap lead.  But a foul tide denied the Glandore Harbour crew

the honour and once again, the calculators and spread sheets were busy.

 

Having enjoyed the new wind at the back of the fleet and benefiting too

from a low handicap, 2002 race winner Eric Lisson on Cavatina had the

assembled crowd at Wicklow Sailing Club holding a collective breath late

last night.

 

A deadline of 3.15am on Saturday morning must be beaten for Crosbie to be

beaten.  By tea-time, Cavatina had yet to make its report at the Rockabill

Lighthouse, some 40 miles from the finish.  Then at one minute to seven came

the report - 40 miles to go.

 

However, the last stage is against the wind and effectively longer than 40

miles.  Plus there is a foul tide to battle as well.  Lisson may yet emerge

overall winner of the BMW Round Ireland Race 2006 but this result will come

down to the wire - and the second hand sweep of the countdown clock.