While the skies over Edinburgh were grey spirits were bright and lifted in the Royal Forth Yacht Club with the encouraging morning breeze.

Going in to the day’s racing Badger 810 is leading the fleet, very closely followed by Bluebottle 192, Bande a Part FRA 428 and Jerboa 761 and Corinthians Bertie 764 and Harry 818.

It was a clear start for the fourth race of the event and Dragons were split across the beat with the favourable side proving to be the right.

It was an unfortunate start for Bertie 753, Harry 818 and Meteor 402 who were unable to make the pin end of the start line. But a good start saw Basilisk 515 sail away to the left in clear air.

It looked to be a comfortable lead for Gavia Wilkinson-Cox’s Jerboa as she led through the first windward and downwind gates followed closely by Ron James’ Fei Lin’s Flirtation 633, Bluebottle and Badger.

A changing tide delivered a disturbed sea that saw Bluebottle edge ahead and extend their lead stretching away on the final downwind leg to the take win followed across the line by Fei Lin’s Flirtation and Jerboa respectively.

The final race of the day, race five got through two general recalls before the black flag was issued, tide helping to push the Dragons over the line.

Mike Budd’s Harry achieved a clean start under black flag and led to the windward mark. It was all very close behind with Jerboa, Bluebottle, Bande a Part FRA 428 and Fei Lin’s Flirtation all rounding as a pack.

The run was where the gains were had especially for Jerboa and Bande a Part as they picked up some new positions and held on going through the final gate.

The longer windward leg to the finish delivered an exciting close to the day’s racing as Jerboa took her second win of the event, Badger second and Bluebottle third. These two races have now given the Dragons a series and a discard.

It really is all to play for going into the last race! Overall results can be viewed here >

Day Four and the final race of the Edinburgh Cup is scheduled to start before 11am.
Follow the BDA Facebook page for live-stream race reports. For images from the event visit the Ed Cup Gallery.

For more on the Edinburgh Cup click here >

A beautifully sunny day greeted the Dragon fleet on day two of the Edinburgh Cup in Edinburgh.

After a short delay waiting for wind race two started with an individual recall for GBR 731 the fleet took to the right of the course towards Edinburgh up the first beat against the tide.

Badger 818 and Jerboa 761 were close at the top mark and rounded ahead of Harry 818, Fei Lin’s Flirtation 633 and Bluebottle 192.

Gavia Wilkinson-Cox’s Jerboa looked very steady and comfortable in the light airs and stuck with Badger going into the gate for the second time. Following them through were Bande a Part FRA 428, Bluebottle and Harry.

Race two win went to Badger claiming their first bullet of the Edinburgh Cup followed by Bande a Part, Jerboa and Bluebottle. Simon Barter’s Bertie 763 finished in fifth place claiming the Corinthian win.

A good start for Badger, Bluebottle and Harry in race three saw them take the left hand side of the course towards Fife.

Tom Vernon’s team of Adam Bowers and Oliver Spensley-Corfield have sailed well in the conditions, maximising on the light puffs of wind on the Firth of Forth. They were again first to the windward mark followed closely by Bande a Part, Bluebottle and Harry.

The 1.3 nautical mile run down provided room for some tactical advantages which Ron James capitalised on as he steered Fei Lin’s Flirtation 633 to overtake Harry before the gate.

Royal Forth Yacht Club sailor Cathy Ogden and her team onboard Kismet had a great beat and windward mark rounding and found themselves in 6th place on the run.

By the final windward mark rounding Bluebottle had overtaken both Badger and Bande a Part to come out in the lead followed by Fei Lin’s Flirtation and Bertie.

Hot on their heels was Kismet who continued to race well using local knowledge and experience to stay ahead, sailing along with Harry and Flotation 790 towards the final gate.

Race three was won by Bluebottle, Badger and Bande a Part.

After three Edinburgh Cup races the overall results stand at
1. Badger 810
2. Bande a Part 428
3. Bluebottle 192
4. Jerboa 761
5. Fei-Lin’s Flirtation 633

Day Three racing is scheduled to start at 1125 with two races. Follow the BDA Facebook page for live-stream race reports. To view photos from the event visit the Ed Cup Gallery.

For more on the Edinburgh Cup click here >