SAILING/COWES WEEK:WINDS GUSTING to gale force swept the Irish teams to the front of the fleet at the Rolex Commodore's Cup at Cowes at the weekend, but, once again, overall victory has eluded Ireland as the British Red squad held on to take the trophy.

High winds and driving rain battered the fleet for the brief, high-scoring finale yesterday on the Solent, forcing eight boats out of action and inflicting widespread damage, minor injuries and hair-raising manoeuvres.

For a time, it seemed just such a spectacular broach from British big boat Fair Do's might have ended their convincing overall lead as the 46-footer lost control under full spinnaker. The British Red team rounded up but, heeled over until the mast was almost touching the sea, the big sail kept filling even with the halyard released and was pinned down for more than a minute.

This allowed Ireland Green's Tim Costello on Tiamat to extend their on-the-water lead, and Ireland White's Anthony O'Leary on Antix Eile also stormed up the course.

But the British were soon back in action and surged forward to gradually haul Tiamat in by the finish and cross the line six seconds ahead of the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club crew, forcing them into third after handicap.

But race victory went to O'Leary, and the points boost from his win made the Royal Cork YC team second-best performing boat of the entire regatta.

More importantly, the win sealed the comeback for O'Leary's Ireland White Team that included Conor Phelan's Jump Juice, who placed third in the mid-sized boat class, and a well-earned second place for Eamon Crosbie's National YC entry Teng Tools, the team small boat that revelled in the strong winds.

So Ireland White managed to overtake their Green squad counterparts, who had been in the top three all week, to place second overall after Britain Red.

As for the third-placed team, Tiamat's result along with a win by Eamonn Rohan's Blondie IV in the mid-size fleet were enough to carry a near disaster for Andrew Allen's No Naked Flames.

But the Royal North of Ireland YC boat managed to limp home, securing third overall for the team.