Racing got underway on Tuesday 27th August in Kinsale for the Cork County Council IFDS World Sailing Championships in glorious sunshine after Monday's sailing was postponed due to light winds. Conditions were initially looking poor in the morning and the competitors were held ashore. However after an hour of waiting the Race Committee lowered the postponement flag and the sailors headed out to the race course.
 
On the Sonar course, the 18 boat fleet got a good start shortly after 12 noon in a northerly breeze coming off the land. However the race had to be abandoned half way up the first leg as the breeze died. The competitors went back to the starting area and waited until the wind filled in from the south/south west although the forecast was to be from the north. There was only one general recall and the class finished the day with three good races. Bruno Jourden & his crew (France) got the first gun and a fifth and second to end up overnight leaders. Colin Harrison (Australia) finished in second followed by London 2012 Bronze medallist Aleksander Wang-Hansen (Norway) in third.
 
Commenting on today’s racing Peter Crowley Principal Race Officer for the Sonar stated “It was great to get three races sailed today as we are now only one race down after yesterday’s postponement. It was very competitive out there today but it is early days and it is all to play for”.
 
The three Irish boats finished in 11th Paul McCarthy (Kinsale), 12th John Twomey Providence Team IRL and 18th Jacqui Browne (Tralee).
 
Meanwhile on the 2.4mR and Skud 18 class courses, two races were completed when the wind eventually filled in.  In the nine boat Skud 18 fleet it was a second and a first for Italian Marco Gualandris who is now the overnight leader followed by London 2012 bronze medallist Alexandra Rickham (UK) and John McRoberts from Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Canada.
 
On the 2.4mR course it was not a good day for London 2012 Gold medallist Helena Lucas (UK) who finished down the fleet in 13th overall with 6th and 20th.  Heiko Kroger from Germany was the silver medallist in Kinsale while the overnight leader in the 2.4mR is Bijlard (The Netherlands).

The Sonar Fleet racing in the IFDS World Championships off Kinsale Tuesday 27th August. Pic: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision