At 0400 BST, the vast majority of the IRC Three fleet still racing is inside Lyme Bay, trying to avoid the worst of the gale and in relatively flatter seas. The leading boats have now tacked towards open water and are reporting that the wind speed has started to decrease.
The class leader on the water and after IRC time correction is the Sun Fast 3200 Cora (GBR) raced by Tim Goodhew and Kelvin Matthews. Patrick and Maxime Paul’s JPK 1010 Kurun (FRA) is second with Benoit Rousselin JPK 1010 Delnic (FRA), racing with Quentin Riché, in third. The top three in the class ranking are all racing doublehanded. George Radley’s Ron Holland 40 Imp (IRL) is vying for third with a full crew from County Cork, Ireland.
Tim Goodhew managed to describe the scene from on board Cora at 22:30 BST on the first night:
“We have just rounded Portland Bill, which was exciting as we were close in….(???Crash!) …. Now that was a big wave,” commented Tim. “Probably 25-35 knots out here as we beat into Lyme Bay and in our mind we have just got to get to 2am and then we think things will start to improve in terms of wind strength. We are going well and sailing quick, but we are pretty tired already.”
Tim managed to check in again at 0430 BST on Sunday 23 July:
“The conditions have dropped off a bit, we had a little lull just now down to 12 knots of wind but it is now back up to 17 knots. We have taken our second reef out, so just one reef and our J4. We are expecting the breeze to sit at this for the next few hours. We will use the lighter winds to get a touch of rest! – Cora out.”
Click here to listen to Tim Goodhew's update from Cora.
16 boats have retired in IRC Three as of 04:00 BST Sunday 23 July: Winsome, Waveride, Vent Des Sables, Montana, Mirabelle, Malice, Laudato 2, Kia Ora, Jumunu, Jin Motion, Jetpack, Fleur Du Sud, Fleo, Firestorm, Fastlane 2, and Azora.
