AT DUSK last night, the 85 foot yacht Bridgestone, sailing for Howth Yacht Club, was powering up the west coast having established a five mile lead over American rival Sorcery on the second day of the Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland Race.

Although light winds had looked like hampering progress earlier, the two maxis have been achieving speeds of 11 knots in similar strength breezes and are clear of the main body of the 56 boat fleet that started from Wicklow on Saturday afternoon.

Sorcery had been covering the race leader closely from the start, and by the Tuskar Rock, off Co Wexford, were separated by just over a mile. As darkness fell on Saturday night, a wonderful 20 knot breeze filled in from the north west, in welcome contrast to the nearly windless start at Wicklow.

The entire fleet revelled in a broad reach as far as the approaches to the famous Fastnet Rock lighthouse, where the wind dropped off again in midmorning.

While the leading boats battled in their own exclusive pack at the front, the mid sized boats were still tightly bunched together, with the brand new Silk, skippered by Gordon Maguire, opening up a three hour lead by the Fast net Rock.

Then came Roy Dickson's Corby 40 Beaumont Spirit, duelling closely with Olaf Sorenson's Kinsale yacht Mad Bull, enjoying a commanding position in local waters.

Race veteran Denis Doyle was close behind this group in Moonduster, the corrected time record holder, while Cormac Twomey's handicap contender Sarah J had pulled up to round in eighth position.

Philip Lee's Janey Mac rounded shortly before 9.0 pm with the main bunch, thanks in part to a fine running start at Wicklow when a snap decision not to fly a spinnaker saw the Sigma 400 open a good lead before the faster racing machines caught up.

The largest class, the 12 boat Sigma 38 division, had been dominated by the Joe English skippered Mobil 1 from Sligo Yacht Club. However, in the light winds yesterday evening on the approach to the Fastnet, Welsh entry Gwar had taken the lead.

But all the leading Sigma's were tightly bunched, some within 200 yards of the leader and positions here can easily change over the coming days.

Several crews have reported minor skirmishes with unmarked nets that have caused delays, but in general all entries are faring well and this race compares favourably with previous events.