SAILING:THE MIDPOINT of the ACC Bank Cork Week was reached yesterday with a full programme of races completed across all five courses, though the weather once again dominated proceedings, bringing cloud and a light, fickle breeze.

The overall standings are, however, in some doubt due to an apparent conflict between two key documents that underpin the scoring of the event.

Under the Notice of Race, a discard applies when six or more races have been sailed. But under the Sailing Instructions, which are issued shortly before every event, the discard is to be applied when five or more races have been sailed. All classes completed this yesterday.

Late last night the error was being addressed.

Regardless, in either case the overall performance of any competitor would not be affected by the conflict, though a risk of confusion midway through the series would be unhelpful.

In spite of being in the minority at this largely international event with a large British entry, home crews are holding their own in more than half the classes.

And there was an element of compensation, too, for those boats affected by Tuesday's shortened Harbour Race.

After a promising day on Tuesday in the fresher conditions, Dan Myers's Numbers was unable to outrun Niklas Zennstrom's Ran at the front of the Super Zero class.

With two days remaining, the lead is turning into a battle between the Transpac 52-footer and the Judel Vrolijk 66, while Stuart Robinson's TP52 Stay Calm is also in the hunt in third place.

Tomorrow's final course for this fleet is certain to be an exciting climax as the biggest racing boats of the event will be competing on the newly introduced Slalom course, which has received such acclaim from the smaller boats competing in the event for its test of crew skills.

Whether or not the big boats and their professional crews give the same blessing to the course remains to be seen, as these boats rely heavily on tactical computers and known wind angles.

However, under the slalom course system, the angles are only known by the course principal race officer, who directs the setting of the inflatable marks on the course.

Tuesday night saw a flurry of protests from disgruntled J109 sailors who had been racing the scenic Harbour Course.

In perfect conditions, the fleet, along with the larger IRC classes one and two, sailed a 36-mile course most of which was outside the harbour.

But as the five-hour time limit loomed nearer, the race committee shortened the course to finish at Roche's Point before the boats would enter the harbour for the scenic sail-past of Cobh.

Even the shortening of the course was, however, insufficient and the first J109 reached the finish seven minutes late and the entire 26-boat class was scored as Did Not Finish.

Fortunately, the finishing time for each boat was taken by the race officers and the organisers readily agreed with the International Jury later that night that the results be reinstated as sailed.

That result, together with yesterday's racing, brought Tigh Soluis II owned by Ken Grant into the overall lead by a five points.

Dave Dwyer's marinercove.ie has jumped into the overall lead of Class One after his second-race 13th place was discarded last night.

Boosted by a third and second place, the local Kerr 39-footer has opened a two-point lead from Neil Martin's Jammy Dodger.