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| Out in front, Finnegan's Wake - IRL 2008 (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland) |
Increased blood circulation was certainly in evidence on Sunday 28th February in Dublin Bay when DBSC's keenly contested Spring Chicken Race 5 went ahead as scheduled. The lengthened course this week seems to have played into the hands of the bigger boats in the 4th start. For the second week in a row Line Honours were taken in style by one of the more experienced racing crews, this time by Adrenalin - IRL 1348 (Archambault 35). Despite being pushed hard by Team Windmill - IRL 8088, RStGYC (J109) and last week's winner Orna - IRL 532, NYC (Grand Soleil 40), the race was testament to a near flawless mastery of the prevailing conditions by Adrenalin. Did the winners hold a secret weapon in the form of one or two new faces seen on board this week?!
Further down the fleet the drama was equally intense as a close encounter between the series leader (at the end of Race 4) Pippa IV - IRL 4281, (Sigma 33) and Lula Belle - IRL 3607, NYC, ICC (Beneteau First 36.7) led to the former's sails luffing at the windward mark. With a number of other boats arriving at the mark in quick succession, including Miss Scarlett - IRL 4763 (Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3), Fflogger - IRL 3773, NYC (Flying Fifteen), Lara - IRL 1902 RIYC (Bavaria 33) and Golden Girl - IRL 139 (Ruffian 23), manoeuvring space diminished as pulse rates rose! In avoiding Pippa IV, which was by then in irons, Miss Scarlett - with nowhere else to go - gave the floating course mark a gentle bump. The incident cost Miss Scarlett a 360 penalty, carried out once clear of her pursuers. Pippa IV quickly recovered and with a slick spinnaker heist was back into the fray. No harm done, just more grist to the mill and added spice to the burgers in the après sail analysis back at the National YC!
Finnegan's Wake - IRL 2008, NYC (Grand Soleil 37) was Race 5 winner on corrected time. Meanwhile Team Windmill and Aztec - IRL 29832, RIYC, RORC, (Archambault 35) moved into joint overall 1st place on 52 points in this year's Spring Chicken series but have they peaked too soon? Sarnia - IRL 2260, NYC (S&S 36) lies in 3rd on 53 points. With Pippa IV and Valhalla - IRL 1273, RIYC (Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32i) lying in equal 4th on 58 points the stage is set for a thrilling climax in next Sunday's DBSC Spring Chicken 2010 - Race 6.
Race 5 Photo Gallery HERE