AFTER what seemed an eternity, Michael Boyd's J35 Big Ears slipped quietly across the finishing line of the Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland race at 1.27 a.m. yesterday morning off Wicklow Harbour.

With the tide flooding against him and a glassy smooth sea hinting at the lack of breeze, it seemed to many that the Dun Laoghaire entry would take until dawn to make the finish. But Boyd and his crew, minus one removed to hospital off Kerry with fractured ribs, played every tiny gain to beat Roy, Dickson's Beaumont Spirit on Channel handicap, the deciding system for determining the overall race winner.

Had Boyd been one and a half hours later, then the Howth boat's corrected time lead would have been safe, at least until the smaller boats' eventual finishing times were known.

In the event however, Big Ears gave away precious little time and, failing to surprise turnaround of lowest handicapped boats, the title of provisional race winner is certain to be confirmed. Big Ears now joins Jumpin Jack Flash as fleet handicap winners in what is becoming frustratingly repetitive for the 40 foot speed machines.

An elated Boyd came ashore reporting a fantastic race in spite of the light weather for most of their four and a half days race. The sleigh ride up the west coast was a major highlight while the evacuation of Mick Maloney to hospital did not delay their progress as the pack they were in were all becalmed at the time.

Earlier in the day, the Gordon Maguire skippered Silk 2 narrowly missed the 100 hour target for 40 footers by just seven minutes. But, Beaumont Spirit arrived against the odds to beat them by about 20 minutes.

Later yesterday, the wind picked up again and broke Canterbury's forestay on the final approach to the finish. Ahead of her were a series of Cork yachts ensuring that the overall team prize goes to the south coast club once again.