Jalfrezi, the J/120 sailed by Gareth Thomas and Trevor Griffiths have added first place on corrected time, to their line honours win in the second leg of the double handed Triangle Race, from Crosshaven to Treguier in northern France.

Following their fifth place on handicap in the opening leg from Torquay to Crosshaven, in which they also took line honours, Thomas and Griffiths now lead the event.

James Yallow and Gary Heward sailing Dreamer, a Starlight 35, currently hold second place, having taken third place on the opening leg, and fifth on the just completed leg to Treguier.

The winners of the Torquay to Crosshaven leg, husband and wife team Rupert and Kathy Smalley, sailing the smallest boat in the fleet, The Flying Fish, dropped to tenth on this leg, but hold third place in the event.

There was little doubt from the start in Crosshaven on Saturday afternoon, that this would be a big boat leg, with the initial stretch from the Irish coast to the Bishop Rock, hard on into 35 knots of breeze and big seas.

The larger boats soon powered away, and were able to work their way through the big waves more effectively, to be in a strong position when they bore away around the Bishop Rock, and raised spinnakers.

The strong tides of the English Channel also played a big part in the tactics of the leg, and in particular helped Jalfrezi gain valuable separation from her nearest rivals close to the finish.

Kathy Smalley commented that you couldn’t escape from the tide, but that it was much stronger along the French coast, which is also strewn with rocks and small islands.

She said one of the critical decisions was when to head in towards the finish from mid Channel, because good use of the tide could either drag you towards it, or sweep you away.

There were many stories amongst the competitors of spending hours within sight of the finish, but struggling against the tidal stream in light winds.

The final leg of the race, the 110 nautical mile dash from Treguier back to Torquay in England, starts on Thursday.

Results

Leg 2, Crosshaven to Treguier

1. Jalfrezi, Gareth Thomas/Trevor Griffiths – J/120

2. Majic, Peter Howe/Mik Underdown – J/110

3. Far Fetched, Alan Richards/Andrew Way – Dufour 40

4. AWOL, Steve Thomas/Martin Newnum – Corby 33

5. Dreamer, James Yallow/Gary Heward – Starlight 35

6. Sigmania, Richard Cox/Guy Haigh – Sigma 38

After 2 legs of 3

1. Jalfrezi

2. Dreamer

3. The Flying Fish, Kathy and Rupert Smalley – Laser 28

4. Majic

5. Andromeda, Robert Coates/Jeff Grist – Fastnet 34

6. Pyxis, Kirsteen Donaldson/Mary Sturgess – X332