THE leading yachts in the 2,100 mile Teacher's Round. Britain Race ended the first leg of the event in Galway last night as rain and gales lashed the remainder of the fleet on their final approach to the finishing line.
Dominic Bourgeois and the crew of the French entry Cyrano, won the first stage and second place went to team mate JeanPhillipe Saliou on Gavroche.
Ireland's two boats have had a mixed race so far with Dickie Gomes showing the better form so far in Spirit of Galway/lreland 1 and has been swapping third and fourth places with Scot Paul Jeffes on Lord Inverforth.
Tom McWilliam on Claddagh Princess/Ireland 2 appears to be languishing at the rear of the 10 boat fleet in eighth place and has not featured prominently on this leg that started from Cowes, Isle of Wight on Sunday.
Already, the l0 crews have experienced both extremes of weather after light airs on Monday saw the fleet practically restart off Land's End before near gale conditions on Wednesday and yesterday. "We have been on the rail for nearly 36 hours," said one skipper. "We have had some very exciting sailing including sailing downwind in 25-30 knots of breeze (ic) with the kite up." The remaining three legs will present the teams with further challenges before reaching Cowes about September 13th.
This race is now in its second year following its introduction by Harold Cudmore. The concept emulates Rugby's five nations championship in an offshore racing environment on one design yachts.
A professional skipper and mate on each boat are joined by amateur sailors, most of whom have little or no prior sailing experience and receive basic instruction in the weeks before the start.
Although the event's introduction received a lukewarm and even cynical response last year, the persistence of its organisers and its formula of deliberately mixing amateurs with professionals may yet prove to be part of the long awaited revival that offshore racing has been waiting for. Grand Prix events such as the Admiral's Cup appear to have elevated themselves beyond reach of all but the mega wealthy.
In the meantime, the recent trend in day racing towards one-designs and Sportsboats may soon be repeated for offshore events. Interestingly, the likes of water ballasted 30 footers and other "radical" approaches have yet to receive the same enthusiastic backing from the sport's governing bodies as given to, the expensive ILC "one designs".
The evenly matched fleet that continues its competition from Galway to Oban at 3.30 p.m. this Sunday may yet prove to be the writing on the wall as far as reviving interest to the healthy levels of just less than 10 years ago.
This weekend also sees the return of the GP14 National Championship to the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven. The expected fleet of over 60 boats will include a large contingent from Britain that counts current world champion Richard Estaugh.
Local hopes for the AIB sponsored event rest with notables such as Andrew Coveney, Mel Collins, David Rose, Philip How and Killian Collins.
Meanwhile, Ireland will be ably represented at the Dragon Gold Cup at Dournanez, Brittany, next week by a six boat squad. The Irish Dragons in the 120 strong fleet will be skippered by Robin Hennessey, Tim Pearson, Mick Cotter, Gerry Owens, Claire Hogan and Declan Hayes.
