Hard Gains and Narrow Escapes – Admiral’s Cup Fleet Charges West
From there, it was a raw offshore drag race to The Lizard. With breeze in the low teens and building, the front pack shifted up a gear. Double digits lit up on the speedos, and it was game on. Black Pearl still led on the water, but the offshore flyers—Zen and Teasing Machine—reeled in the margin, closing fast and hot.
Near the exclusion zones around the Isles of Scilly—those three traffic separation schemes that bite back if you mess with them—all the frontrunners played it safe and slipped east. No one wanted a penalty wrecking their race. Meanwhile, heartbreak struck for Ino Noir (James Neville, RORC Red), forced to retire with charging system failure. The crew are safe and ashore in Plymouth, but it was a bitter early exit.
By 1200 BST on Sunday, corrected time shuffled the pack again. Jolt 3 edged into the AC1 lead, twelve minutes clear of Beau Geste. Caro held third—just under an hour behind. Tight stuff in a long race.
AC2 – Currents, Calls, and a Battle of Boatspeed Down in AC2, the tactical roulette wheel spun around Portland Bill. By 1800 BST Saturday, most of the big players had made it through with the tide. But the smaller, lower-rated contenders—Ginkgo, Garm, Sunrise IV, and Edelweiss—got caught out, chewing the current instead of riding it. Valuable miles were lost.
It proved a turning point. The faster-rated boats got a free ride while the rest struggled to punch west. Whether the weather will repay the little guys later with lighter breeze is anyone’s guess. The Channel still has cards to play.
On Sunrise IV, navigator Tom Cheney checked in just after dawn on Day Two:
“We’re in good spirits aboard the good ship Sunrise. About two boat lengths from Garm—which is exciting and maddening all at once. We dodged Christchurch Bay and crossed swords with the other JPKs off Swanage. Got lined up for the Portland right shift but didn’t beat the tide. Since then it’s been a full-send drag race. We’ve clawed back half a mile, and Django isn’t far ahead. Expecting some funk near The Lizard. I’m already scratching my head at the nav table.”
At the front of the AC2 fleet on the water: Beau Ideal, Callisto, and Jolt 6, with Casiraghi’s crew holding a slight offshore lane. Pierre Casiraghi offered his own early Sunday thoughts:
“Our Solent exit was clean. In that mess of boats, it’s hard not to trade gelcoat or protest flags, but we stayed clear. We ground through multiple tacks and passed Callisto on current and guts. First night was solid—crew into rhythm, no dramas. We’re fighting for every inch now. Long way to go, but spirits are high.”
By Sunday midday, the numbers looked very good for the JPKs. After IRC correction, Django led AC2 by more than two hours. Garm and Sunrise IV were locked in a virtual draw for second. Jolt 6 is still in the game and pushing hard.
This is far from over. Long legs, long odds—and a fleet full of punchers still swinging.