Ahead of the record

An update on the BMW Round Ireland Race

David Nixon and the crew on O2 Team Spirit continue to build their on the water lead of the BMW Round Ireland Race today and at current speeds, could finish the 704-mile non-stop race by Tuesday afternoon. The Fáilte Ireland supported event has a record of 76 hours and 23 minutes but the circum-navigation could fall to under three days.

"Our best speed so far has been 23 knots," Nixon said. "I'd be reluctant to give ETA for the finish though - best case scenario would be to finish by 1800 Tuesday evening. I¹d guess we¹re struggling on handicap time and a little more breeze would be useful."

After fresher conditions off the southwest coast on the second night of the race, the overall lead on handicap corrected time has moved to Dun Laoghaire entry Calyx Voice & Data skippered by Eamonn Crosbie of the National Yacht Club. The 32ft entry is one of the smallest boats competing but highly rated.

However, previous leader Minnie the Moocher skippered by Anthony Richards from the Royal Cork Yacht Club has picked up speed on the Atlantic stage. "We have been averaging 14 knots up the west coast," reported co-owner Ian Travers. "We expect to have made up time this afternoon and will regain dropped places."

In other reports from the fleet during the day, RTE Newsreader Bryan Dobson reported from State O'Chassis that passing the Fastnet Rock brought relief with the change of wind angle. "It was not as tough as this in the last race and we've not had less than 20 knots of wind since the start at Wicklow," he said by VHF link-call today.

Just ahead of Dobson's boat is the all-female team on the Western Yacht Club entry Confusion. By teatime today, the team was just off the Great Skellig and expecting to free off some more to begin the Atlantic stage with a freshening breeze.

Meanwhile, O2 Team Spirit's principal rival for line honours and a possible record has suffered a setback. JP Chomett's 60ft CityJet Solune has blown out two spinnakers as well as suffering some ballast problems.

Provisional Results on Corrected Handicap Time for Innistearacht Radio Check-in

1 Calyx Voice & Data Eamonn Crosbie 42:25:00 44:22:04
2 Jazz Chris Bull 38:19:00 45:51:54
3 Minnie the Moocher Anthony Richards & Ian Travers 39:49:00 46:06:28
4 Chieftain Ger O'Rourke 43:12:00 46:26:24
5 Galileo Kelleher, Lemass & Tennnyson 42:26:00 46:30:25
6 Freya Conor Doyle 42:13:00 46:41:30
7 02 Team Spirit David Nixon 31:14:00 46:43:30
8 White Tiger Oliver Sheehy 42:16:00 47:00:02
9 Do Dingle.com - (2) Aodhan Fitzgerald 43:21:00 47:30:42
10 Tonnerre de Breskens Piet Vroon 37:10:00 47:52:14
11 Hark Roy Conway 43:35:00 47:53:53
12 Second Love Frans Maas 38:44:00 48:41:16
13 City Jet Solune Jean P. Chomett 34:15:00 48:56:36