Superleague off to a flyer

The annual Carlsberg Royal Alfred YC Superleague on Dublin Bay got off to a flying start on Saturday with strong showings across the 13 classes racing. The various one-designs fleets were sailing their second event of the series following the Baily Bowl series the previous weekend.

In the what is arguably the country's prime racing class at present, Adam Winkelman's ESAT Telecom scored first in the 1720 Sportsboats, setting the stage for the series as a fresh winner following Robert Dix and Tom Roche's win at their opening outing.

In the Dragons, another first from the Royal St George YC trio of John Lavery, Geoff Chadwick and Paul Maguire on Das Boot is certain to provide an early and commanding lead on the points table as the Superleague prepares for the high-scoring month of June and the Dublin club regatta season.

Mick Cotter's new Whisper has improved from the Baily Bowl result and a third on Saturday could indicate a developing threat if a return to more usual form appears.

In the keelboat classes, Michael Fleming's Trinculo of Howth YC scored the opening win in Class Zero under channel handicap. Kieran Jameson's Sigma 38 Changeling also had a good start to the season with a first under channel in class one.