CORMAC TWOMEY'S Sarah J from Dun Laoghaire maximised her extreme leeward position on a congested start line for the second race in Fleet A of Ford Cork Week off Crosshaven yesterday. A decision to start the combined class 0, one and two fleets simultaneously in the 17-knot breeze has led to some justifiable criticism from the smaller class two boats who were soon rolled over after the start by their larger counterparts in the fight for clean air.

The course turned into a drag race as the southerly breeze freshened for the 100 boats and Sarah J's positioning on the line was her ultimate key to success in class one as she edged out at first under headsail and then gennaker into Ringabella Bay.

Likewise Colm Barrington showed some of his dinghy sailing talent with an early hoist of a spinnaker on board Surfin' Shoes which, despite the odd broach, enabled him to get a valuable few boat lengths clear of his rivals.

Sarah J and Surfin' Shoes were among the first pack in the wake of sole maxi entry Sorcery to the Ringabella mark and this alone was a turning point in what was to become a soldier's race around Cork Harbour with only a one-sided beat presenting any chance for overtaking.

At the Ringabella mark there were so many collisions as the three classes converged that this raft-up alone produced more red flags to beat the 28 protests heard on Monday night.

Following her win in the protest room, Sarah J. helmed by Chris Arrowsmith, now counts a first and second place to lead the class one 23-foot fleet overall, with Inno Vision III (Max McMullen of Howth YC) second overall, having sailed yesterday's race bow to stern with level rated rival X-Pat helmed by Jamie McWilliam, now in joint fourth overall.

In class three, former Fireball world champion Tony Wetherall of England put his skills to good use as tactician on board Victric III (A Demulder) who now counts two firsts to lead overall from Northern Ireland's Bengal Magic in second and Michael Boyd's Big Ears third.