SAILING/Round Ireland Race: Wear and tear continues to take its toll on the fleet racing in the Bord Fáilte-sponsored Round Ireland Race as the event enters its fourth day. Late last night, leading yacht Team Tonic was preparing to finish the 704-mile course just a few hours outside the 1998 record time of three days, four hours and 23 minutes.

As most of the fleet completed the Atlantic stage and crossed the north coast yesterday, gusting winds of at least 20 knots, aided by a gentle ocean swell, helped speed the main pack towards the final hurdles off the Ulster coast. The entrants have maintained better than normal pace, especially among the back-markers.

With winds gusting to 30 knots from the west southwest at midday, Cracklin' Rosie reached Tory Island and made its mandatory position safety report to the Irish Coastguard service. Like key rival Azure, Roy Dickson's 40-footer had shredded a spinnaker in the gusty weather and was suffering as a result.

Others, too, reported similar problems with sails, though temporary repairs were achievable in some cases. Oliver Sheehy's Tiger took shelter off Tory Island to send a man aloft to fix two halyards that prevented them using spinnakers while also making a small repair to their mainsail. And their toilet had broken too.

Later on, Azure's navigator Brian Mathews reported that the crew had "improvised" their plan to take advantage of the off-wind conditions along the north coast and hoped to make the dreaded Rathlin Island tidal gate by evening.

As a result, Azure has maintained a top-three overall placing on IRC handicap together with George Radley's Imp, the defending course champion. These two are joined in a pack of three boats in a clear lead on corrected time by Team Tonic whose fast passage on Monday has boosted her performance on handicap.

Nick Hewson's Farr 52-footer may have lost the chance at a record but will be heartened by the opportunity of taking the overall trophy.

Meanwhile, more fresh and gusting north or north-west winds are expected today. They could sweep many of the mid-fleet contenders down the north-east coast, creating a concertina effect and threatening the leader group. This race is far from over and is unlikely to stop just because the first boats reach Wicklow today.