The first 24 hours of the biennial Round Ireland Race passed off without incident following the start on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. from Wicklow SC. The failing breeze died completely overnight, leaving the 28 boats becalmed off the south coast, and chances of new records for the course highly improbable.

In fact, the absence of the 60-footer Toshiba should ensure that Colm Barrington's 1998 record remains intact, as the round-the-world racer that did make the starting line for the Royal Cork YC turned out to be a first generation W60.

Chris Dickson's Tokio had been a contender for Whitbread victory in 1993/94 until a mast failure. Now competing in the Round Ireland, the lack of water ballasting and other modern features that Toshiba possessed should prove costly.

This effectively returns the 704 mile course to its original form, as a handicap race for amateur crews and, as if to endorse this, Tokio was listed as last on the corrected time positions at the first check-in point on the course, the Tuskar Rock off the Wexford coast, late on Saturday night.

With the way open for the smaller boats, several favourites are apparent. The British Swan 60 Fenix holds the on-the-water lead in addition to a narrowing handicap lead. However, it is previous handicap race winner Michael Boyd, now sailing on People Group/Warpath, that leads the small boat charge. This Wicklow SC entry is better known as another Barrington yacht, a Bashford Howsion 41-footer called Surfin' Shoes.

Close by and in third place on IRC handicap at the Tuskar was Roy Dickson and Cracklin' Rosie from Howth YC.

White Knuckles 2 from Hamble failed to show on the starting line without explanation.