SAILING:FRESH WINDS that marked the opening day of the Sovereigns Cup at Kinsale brought mixed fortunes for the 101-boat turnout that saw plenty of upsets amongst the expected front-runners in several classes.
Irish Commodores’ Cup winning captain Anthony O’Leary received a shock in the first race of the four-day series on Antix following his class national championship win at Crosshaven last weekend when Neil White’s Independent Bear took the bullet on their coastal course.
It was a similar story in Class One where last weekend’s Irish Cruiser Racing Association champion Pat Kelly on Storm from Howth ended in fifth place, while Cork J109 Jelly Baby popped out in first overall.
The theme was continued amongst the quarter-tonners racing in Class Three where Neil Kennefick’s Tiger would have been expected to win all or most races in this fleet or at worst place second somewhere in the series.
Instead, the veteran skipper took third place in a separate coastal course for this division.
Kennefick’s class was won by Eamonn Rohan on Anchor Challenge, who spent last weekend nipping at the leader’s heels but pounced for victory yesterday.
Their first race also had to be abandoned after a mark drifted off course and the race was later re-sailed.
SOVEREIGNS CUP, Kinsale YC
Provisional overall results after day one – Class 0 IRC (Coastal): 1st Independent Bear (N White); 2nd Antix; 3rd Gloves Off (K Twomey).
Class 1 IRC (Coastal):1st Jelly Baby (Nagle and O'Mahony); 2nd EOS (Dave Scott); 3rd Jetstream (Redden Bros). Class 2 IRC: 1st Slack Alice (Shane Strattan); 2nd Yanks $ Francs (Vinnie O'Shea); 3rd White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody).
Class 3 IRC (Quarter ton Class):1st Anchor Challenge (Eamonn Rohan); 2nd Aguilla (Rob Gray); 3rd Tiger (Kenefick/Kenefick/O'Brien).
Class 5 IRC:Samba (John and Pat Downing) 2 Orna (Philip Dilworth).
VSOP:(Donal McCarthy).
