Sailing Round Ireland RaceAodhan Fitzgerald, sailing the Beneteau 40.7 "Ireland's West", is the third handicap leader in as many days as the BMW Round Ireland race passed the halfway stage last night.
After four nights at sea, the race for overall honours focuses on the north coast this morning and the hopes of fresher winds.
Eamonn Crosbie confirmed his intention to retain the title when he sailed past Eagle Island on Teng Tools yesterday afternoon at 5.30pm.
Teng Tools was making good time and beating on port tack. She was doing six knots towards the Mayo check-in point according to navigator Stefan Hyde. The crew of the small boat had a tough time on Tuesday spending 20 hours on the rail in heavy seas.
The National Yacht Club team had computer problems but were back on track and the 32 footer was free of any other gear failure. Even the slight leak around the rudder had not worsened.
They had crossed tacks with much bigger boats such as Oliver Sheehy's White Tiger in Clew Bay and they could see Ireland's West less than a mile ahead.
But Crosbie has no preordained path to victory. He, along with Fitzgerald as fleet leader, must contend with a raft of medium sized front runners and a forecast that offers only the prospect of a decent sailing breeze.
At Eagle Island Niall Dowling's Jeronimo was second, Crosbie third with Anthony Richards's Minnie the Moocher in fourth. The only thing certain in the stop-start conditions of the west coast so far is that up to half the fleet are still in the hunt for the overall prize.
Alice II, Creative Play and an impressive west coast run by former winner George Radley in Imp are all vying for the overall lead with less than 350 miles to the Wicklow finish.
Altana Chieftain passed Innistrahull in the early afternoon and although like the rest of the fleet she is looking for more wind, its arrival may spell trouble as the Sydney Hobart class winner has sustained damage to her mainsail and temporary repairs may not hold out if pressure strengthens.
Richards on Minnie the Moocher reported an improvement in conditions yesterday: "The hatches are open, allowing some fresh air through, a very welcome relief. We are heading directly for Tory Island. Winds are ENE 12 knots giving us fast reaching conditions"
A period of very light winds may also prevail today so a finish for 40 footers on Friday is on the cards.This presents its own rationing problems as most crews would typically have been aiming for a finish tonight or tomorrow.
The possibility also exists that the leaderboard will be turned upside down with the smaller boats coming in with good breeze later in the week.
