Minnie
The Moocher Leads Overall In BMW Round Ireland
Race
27.06.04
- 21:00
As the front-runner in the BMW
Round Ireland reached the famous Fastnet Rock
Lighthouse off the West Cork coastline last evening
(Sunday), provisional overall results calculated
for the fleet passing the first check-in point
at the Tuskar Rock show Anthony Richards' Minnie
the Moocher leads the event on corrected handicap
time.
David Nixon's O2 Team Spirit holds a commanding
lead on the water and is
reported to be on record-breaking pace thanks
to fresh winds soon expected to boost their performance
further. France's City Jet Solune, chief rival
for "line honours" is not suited to
headwinds and is estimated to be at least four
hours behind the Irish leader.
"We're
doing the job we came here to do", Nixon
reported shortly after
passing the landmark rock. "Now we're looking
forward to getting some
straight-line miles under our belt. I'd be fairly
be happy that we did well
over Solune in the afternoon as 20-knot headwinds
wouldn't have suited
them".
However, the race for the overall title is wide
open and as usual for this
704-mile classic, overall victory generally favours
the smaller entries:
2004 is no exception.
At 37 feet, fleet leader on corrected handicap
time Minnie the Moocher is
one of the smaller boats competing but the Jason
Kerr design is within sight
of much larger boats such as second overall Fidessa
Fast Wave and Tonnerre
de Breskens.
Although this Dutch boat was estimated to be ten
miles ahead passing the Old Head of Kinsale, unaware
of his overall position, Richards said he was
expecting a better sailing angle after the Fastnet
and would ³reclaim the
advantage² in the early hours of Monday.
So far in this race, just four boats have retired
led by Irisha who lost
steering; Joker with rigging worries along with
Lough Swilly two-handed
entry Saber with similar concerns. Broadsword
retired to Dunmore East soon
after starting from the Tuskar Rock to Fastnet
stage as crew fatigue took
its toll in the tough conditions.
In our BMW Round Ireland section you'll find past
results, tips on how to sail the Round Ireland
and sailing instructions.
