Last year's Cork Week winner, Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera is in the driving seat again on the south coast having scored two race wins in the first day of the O'Leary Life sponsored Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale writes Bob Bateman.
Whelan beat Conor Phelan's Ker 36/7 Jump Juice in both races today in the five boat fleet setting up an interesting dog-fight 'til Saturday.
As regular Afloat readers will know, Eleuthera's crew for this week's Sovereign's cup includes D2D winning "Rockabill VI" strategist Mark Pettit as tactician.
Maurice O'Connell, from North Sails, who was with Eleuthera for the ICRA Championships earlier this month, has moved over to Phelan's Jump for this event.
The third boat in contention in Class Zero is Denis Murphys’ Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo from Royal Cork. Denis competed in the ICRA National Championship two weeks ago at the Royal St George YC and did not do that well, but in stronger winds, she is well known for being a bit of a giant killer and currently lies third overall.
Somewhat unusual easterly breezes for Kinsale and a lumpy sea with 16-knots provided Principal Race Officer Jack Roy with testing conditions for day one of the Cup across three courses.
Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow morning at the Cup but easterly winds are forecast as gusting as high as 40 knots.
Results are here. All provisional and subject to protest.
Scroll down for photo gallery from Day One of the Sovereigns' Cup Class Zero action by Bob Bateman below
