The deciding race of the biennial Admiral's Cup got underway over the weekend with six out the seven nations all vying to use the quadruple scoring Fastnet Race to turnaround the leader board for the series.
The United States team of Flash Gordon II, MK Cafe and Ireland's Jameson holds an apparently commanding lead but faces the uncertainty of this final and its reputation for reversing seemingly unassailable leads as the US found out to their cost in 1993.
However, earlier predictions of a very light Fastnet race appear unfounded for most of the race so far with gentle force three to four winds keeping the fleet moving: the first boats, probably the maxis or multi-hulls should be rounding the famous lighthouse off the West Cork coast early today. The first of the Admiral's Cuppers are expected at the rock later and at this point, almost two thirds into the total 605-mile course should the running be clear and predictions for the Plymouth finish and overall result can be made.
Tom Roche, owner of the Irish 36 footer must be well pleased with his performance so far. While leading their class overall, skipper Dee Smith's solid reputation for offshore racing should secure the final for his team while the other two US boats have also fared well offshore recently.
Another happy Irishman in the Fastnet must be Gordon Maguire from Howth Yacht Club racing as number two and starting helmsman on board Lawrie Smith's Whitbread 60 footer Silk Cut.
Meanwhile, Ross Killian and Darren McCann of the National Yacht Club Dun Laoghaire finished second in the International Mirror Class World Championship sailed at Kingston, Lake Ontario, just three points behind Christopher Balding and Nicola Harper from Britain.
