Light airs once again played havoc with the racing during the second day of Cork Week. Most of the fleets managed to complete one race but after, in some classes, a lengthy delay in starting the second, the wind dropped to virtually zero leaving yachts wallowing in glassy calm conditions with many classes shortening course.

In the mixed Sportsboat class two Laser SB3’s took control of the first race of the day claiming first and second places respectively but they were knocked off their perch after the second race when Squelchy Monkey, the Projection 762 finished second and now leads the fleet by just one point. The winner of the second race was another Projection 762, Rattle and Hum.

In the 707 class, Paul Gray and team from Maylandsea Bay Yacht Club sailed a superb race to take the first race win, but the ever-consistent Rob Cage and team sailing Impulse scored another race win to put them a clear nine points ahead of Censored.

Rob Lark and team on Babbalass bach are proving to be the team to beat in the 1720 class. They haven’t actually won a race yet but have notched up a consistent string of results in the top four and now lead the regatta by 19 points. Top scorer of the day was Glynn Williams’ IC454 Wolf which two first places putting her four points ahead of Bounder. Nicholas Hewson’s Farr 52 Team Tonic, who took a second place yesterday, had to settle for two eighth places leaving them in fifth place overall. Bear of Britain was another boat that suffered in the light airs of the first race but a second race third keeps her well up the top half of the fleet in eighth.

Bob Fisher’s dominance of IRC 3 was affected in the first race of the day when he posted a 14th. However, in the second he was back on form and notched up a sixth, securing an overnight second overall. With a second, third and a 14th, Jacana, the J/35, has taken the top spot. Andrew Armstrong’s Swan 41 who had a top five result yesterday also suffered in the light airs and had to settle for a 28th in the first race and 15th place in the second. Armstrong commented after the day’s racing: “It was really fickle today. We went from last to the top five at one point and back out again. The racing here generally is so good but today was a bit of lottery. We’re looking forward to some steadier winds for the remainder of the week in an effort to keep our nearest rival, Momo, the other Swan 41 behind us.”

One of the unluckiest boats at Cork today was Noonmark V, the Swan 57 who suffered hull damage when Desperado, the Swan 65, collided with her during pre-start manoeuvres. Noonmark retired with a crack in her hull and a protest meeting is currently taking place.

In IRC 0 Colm Barrington’s Corby 38 Gloves Off, scored a first in the first race of the day and a second in the second and now has equal points with Thunder 2, the Mills 37 who took a fifth and first in today’s two races.

For results, news and more information from Ford Cork Week click here.