ICAP Leopard Leading BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race

by Event media on 24 Jun 2008 Having rounded the Fastnet Rock at 07.30 hrs this morning ICAP Leopard is leading the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race as she powers past the Blasket Islands. Mike Slade’s superyacht quest for the race record is a little behind schedule as she needs to better 11 knots of boat speed to beat the record whereas she has averaged just over 9 knots over the first 24 hours.

In second place on the water but in first position on handicap is Dutch entry Formidable 3 skippered by Piet Vroon, closely followed by the other Super 0 boat, Lee Overlay Partners. In second place on handicap after Formidable is Aodhan Fitzgerald sailing Ireland West ahead of previous race winner George Radley on VSOP. Current holder of the race title, Cavatina, skippered by two times winner Eric Lisson is well up the field in ninth place.

Of the 46 entrants in the 2008 BMW Round Ireland only 41 managed to cross the start line at midday yesterday, mostly due to damage caused by the severe weather experienced on the east coast. Since the start a further three boats, Legally Brunette, Inis Mor and Mighty Max, have been forced to retire from the race.

Mumbo.ie being sailed by Patrick Cronin and John Chambers is first in the Two Handed class with second and third places filled by Slingshot and Jalfrezi.

Sailing non-stop for anything from three to nine days in the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race is a gruelling and relentless test of endurance and seamanship for all of this years’ entrants and those who’ve competed in the past, but particularly for those who have entered the Two Handed class.

On a fully crewed boat the ‘off-watch sailors’ enjoy the supreme luxury of a few hours shut-eye, even if it is in the Spartan conditions of most modern racing yachts. No such luxury for the two-handers who will be severely stretched '24/7' for the next three or four days.

With Met Eireann predicting up to gale force 8 conditions on the west and north coasts everything is still wide open for a record breaking attempt and an exciting finish to the overall handicap competition.

Provisional Positions - class - DTF - Fastnet Rounding - As at 18:30 23 June 2008 - Results are provisional. Latest results based on OC Tracker position and TCC.

1 Lee Overlay Partners IRC Super 0 CK 457.39 23/06/2008 12:30
2 Formidable 3 IRC Super 0 451.14 23/06/2008 11:30
3 Ireland West IRC 1 509.64 23/06/2008 18:00
4 Team Kingspan IRC 0 498.5 23/06/2008 16:30
5 Nadie IRC 0 492.87 23/06/2008 16:00
6 McCarthyMotors.ie IRC 2 519.85
7 Cavatina IRC 3 536.8
8 Aquelina IRC 1 518.7
9 Bjaysus IRC 0 506.95 23/06/2008 18:00
10 Dinamite-Tee IRC 1 514.88
11 Mumbo.ie IRC 3 530.88
12 Jalfrezi IRC 1 519.81
13 Galileo IRC 1 517.39
14 Another Nods IRC 1 520.04
15 Jacana IRC 0 515.61
16 Ocean Spirit of Carlingford IRC 2 532.57
17 Slingshot IRC 2 531.71
18 Persistance IRC 3 537.43
19 Blackjack IRC 3 546.33
20 FMB Noyeks IRC 2 534.55
21 Cheetah Cub IRC 2 530.11
22 ICAP Leopard IRC Super 0 CK 397.71 23/06/2008 07:30
23 Alburn IRC Super 0 473.4 23/06/2008 14:30
24 Chancer IRC 2 534.53
25 Star Dancer IRC 3 551.07
26 WSI IRC 3 554.46
27 Gusilliam IRC 0 502.68 23/06/2008 17:30
28 Ruffian IRC 3 557.16
29 White Tiger IRC 0 531.22
30 Quite Correct IRC 1 540.44
31 First of September IRC 2 552.42
32 Sarnia IRC 3 576.77
33 Lascar IRC 3 569.76
34 Mighty Max 2 IRC 1 576.61
35 Inis Mor IRC 0 0
35 Lancastrian IRC 1 0 23/06/2008 08:30
35 Cracker IRC 3 0 23/06/2008 04:00
35 Cassiopeia IRC 3 0
35 Earendil IRC 2 0 23/06/2008 09:00