SAILING/Round-Ireland race: George Radley and the crew of Imp were last night expected to to win the Bord Fáilte-sponsored Round Ireland Race - for the second consecutive year - unless there was a dramatic last-gasp performance by one of the last yachts at sea, such as 36-footer Cavatina.

Fresh winds swept down the Irish Sea from the north, speeding the mid-fleet yachts towards the leading contenders and wiping out any handicap advantage.

Radley and his Kinsale team enjoyed a near perfect race from the outset, rarely losing touch with newer, and supposedly faster, yachts about them.

Where the 1977 Holland 39-footer lost on age, it was compensated for by a tough and experienced crew that were well familiar with the race and offshore sailing.

Yesterday started with a surprise arrival on the finishing line by Nick Hewson's fleet-leading Farr 52 Team Tonic that had been dogged by light airs and foul tide for the final 20 miles from Howth to Wicklow. The British yacht crossed the line at 01.34, well outside the record time set by Colm Barrington in 1998 in spite of a high-speed Atlantic passage.

After a night of calm for the entire fleet, Swan 60 Fenix reached Wicklow before a prolonged period during which fresh and gusting westerly winds developed, crucially, in the north Irish Sea before spreading to contenders such as Cracklin' Rosie and Azure who then faced a long beat to the finishing line.

One by one, each boat that finished yesterday afternoon failed to beat Team Tonic's corrected time until it was Radley's turn to start his final approach to the finishing point.

With a deadline almost 24 hours after Hewson's time, the windy conditions yesterday were to prove as decisive as any crew selection or sail plan for this race.

The remainder of the 28-boat starting fleet - four had retired by last night - are expected to reach Wicklow by tonight at the latest in one of the fastest races ever, in spite of no record being reached.

Team Tonic's participation was part of preparations for involvement in next year's Admiral's Cup that is coming to Dublin in July and will culminate in a Round Ireland for those classes competing.

The British owner and crew were pleased with their first-time entry in this race and declared that the Farr 52 would be an ideal size for the bigger boat of an Admiral's Cup team, being a good performer on the inshore as well as an offshore-style course.