Ford Cork Week welcomed intense sunshine and a 5 – 6 knot easterly breeze for the penultimate day of racing on Thursday July 20.

The Class 0 – IRC yachts raced on the Barlo Plastics-sponsored Coastal Course, which started at 1130 about two nautical miles north-west of Cork Buoy and took the fleet towards the entrance of Kinsale. A light and fickle easterly breeze filled in to five knots and Harold Cudmore, skippering 41.5ft Barlo Plastics, got a good start but was immediately involved in a tacking dual with Roy Disney’s 70ft Pyewacket. Olympic helmsman Andy Beadsworth aboard Barlo Plastics was forced to tack away for clear air, Pyewacket then tacked into their wind again and this continued for several minutes before Pyewacket pulled away giving Barlo Plastics clear air.

At Cork Buoy, the first windward mark, Pyewacket led from Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling followed by the Swan 60 Island Fling, then Babbalaas II in front of a group of Farr 40s and Barlo Plastics close behind.

Spinnakers were set and the light displacement Pyewacket revelled in the light breeze to build a commanding lead. The course was shortened at ‘Big Sovereign’ island with 10 miles left to the finish, even though the breeze had risen to a steady seven knots.

Meanwhile, the Barlo Plastics support vessel owned and driven by Richard Matthews (52ft Fairline Motorboat) was called to assist an injured crewmember, Brian McAllister, aboard Island Fling. McAllister had sustained a serious head injury after being hit by the spinnaker pole and was rushed by the motorboat to Kinsale, where he was immediately transferred to awaiting paramedics from Cork with suspected spinal compression.

Line honours and a first place on handicap for Pyewacket has secured overall first place for the Americans on board for the first time this week. On corrected time Pyewacket had a five minute advantage over Barlo Plastics, so the overall winner for Class 0 will depend upon who beats who in the final battle – an inshore race inside Cork Harbour.

CLASS 0 IRC THURSDAY 20TH JULY 2000:

RACE 1:

1st Pyewacket, Roy Disney

2nd Barlo Plastics, Harold Cudmore

3rd 2XL, Stuart Greenfield

Cumulative Class 0 Positions after 7 Races, 1 Discard:

1st Pyewacket 10pts

2nd Barlo Plastics 11pts

3rd Babbalaas II 21pts

4th 2XL 28pts

5th Highland Fling 37pts

6th Warlord VI 45pts