SAILING: As fine weather once again graced the 53-strong turn-out for the Alfa Romeo J24 Europeans, the Netherlands' Albert Kooijman proved his practice-race form by winning the opening two races of the championship on Dublin Bay yesterday.
Racing in 12 knots of steady North nor'east breeze, the Dutch J22 European champions appeared to be in total command throughout the day with superior boatspeed lending the vital edge.
Close behind on the overnight standings were the British Jardine twins on Stouche who scored a second and third place yesterday to finish day one three points behind the leader in second overall. Stuart Jardine described the racing as "excellent" and resolved to find extra speed for today's races as their best option for beating the Just 4 Fun crew.
Germany's Leif Tom Loose ended the first day in third overall as the competition for the overall standings in this 10-race series heats up.
"The courses were very good, very fair," commented the Rotoman skipper. Compliments for principal race officer Tony O'Gorman and his team were widespread ashore at the Royal Irish YC venue.
Best of the home fleet was Bryan Maguire's Cries of Passion from the host club who had an eighth and an 18th to end ninth overall in defiance of his pre-event expectation that top-10 placings were probably unrealistic.
Joy Calendar's Nivola of the Dún Laoghaire fleet had the distinction of leading the hunting pack around the windward mark in the first race though slipped to an acceptable ninth place by the finish.
A 16th in race two earned the class newcomers 10th overall and second best placed Irish entry after day one.
This Italian built J24 arrived for this season and is being helmed by Richard O'Connor, more usually seen racing in the Ruffian fleet on the bay.
Two very consistent 14th places from Barry O'Neill on Jazz, another pre-event fancied local boat, leaves this former Ruffian and 1720 sailor in 12th overall.
However, while Kooijman may have defied the superstitions of practice race results, second placed Hard On Port from Sunday's warm-up failed to find form yesterday. Desmond Fortune scored a 17th and 46th place to place 33rd overnight.
Meanwhile, the ISAF international jury were on the prowl and one Italian was promptly disqualified on the course for an infringement. The team patrol the course watching for rule violations and boat-to-boat incidents that may later end up in the protest room - if summary judgment is not issued beforehand on the water.
