Class 0
Volvo Ocean Race winner ABN Amro One was, once again, the star performer in Class Zero as she belted around the course winning on the water by some 53 minutes that converted to nearly 20 minutes on corrected time. Away from ABN, the big tussle in this fleet is between Charles Dunstone’s Red and Benny Kelly’s Panthera who are both new-generation TP52’s. Today it was Panthera who had the bragging rights, finishing just over 8 minutes ahead of Red whilst Colm Barrington’s beautiful Ker 50, Magic Glove, separated the two on corrected time to finish third.

Classes 1 to 5
In Class 1 IRC the big story of the day was that Glynn Williams sailing the Swan 45 Wisc finally brought Professor John Shepherd’s run of three race wins in Fair Do’s VII to an end as he led the fleet home to record a 2 minute 4 second corrected time victory. Fair Do’s VII still remains in a commanding position overall in the fleet after four races but may have to wave goodbye to the overall Black Group prize that is looking destined to go the way of the X332 Fatjax – although there’s still a long way to go!

In Class 2 IRC, today’s conditions firmly favoured the Grand Soleil 43 Roark of Harald Van Santen from the Netherlands who have been steadily improving all regatta, knocking on the winners door taking home the trophies 1 minute 53 seconds ahead of yesterday’s winner and fleet front-runner Marinerscove.ie of David Dwyer.

Class 3 IRC saw a return to form for Paul McNamara’s Incognito with a 47 second win over David Melville’s Jaguar Logic. Harry Evans had another terrific day on Alvine Jacobite.

In Class 4 IRC, powering away from the fleet to yet another victory with Michael Brough’s Steady Barker offering little resistance over 3 minutes astern on corrected time.

Class 5 IRC again turned into a Winsome beneficiary although Harry Heijst was pushed hard for the top spot all afternoon by David Clementi’s Hotwatch II and John Howell’s aboard Spellbinder.

Classes 6 & 7
For classes 6 and 7 IRC back on the Squadron start line it was another running start to the east that tested the navigator’s time on distance judgement but for the brilliant Dean & Dyball Enigma of Ian Braham in Class 6 IRC it was business as usual as they coolly launched their big blue spinnaker just before the gun and cruised away whilst the rest of the fleet looked on in awe. Braham’s crack team pulled away, revelling in the conditions to secure a whopping 8 minute 13 second corrected time victory, their third of the regatta. In Class 7 IRC it was a day for the quarter-tonners as they surfed away at the start with Paul Treliving’s Odd
Job setting the early pace. However after two and a half hours of sailing, the Louise Morton owned Farr 727 Super Q helmed by Liz Rushall and crewed by
an all-ladies team were the toast of the class as they recorded a 41 second corrected time victory.