After a week of non-stop racing, the 2006 BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race was won for the second time by Cork entry Cavatina skippered by Eric Lisson. A fleet of 39 boats started the event from Wicklow including the largest yacht ever to race in Ireland.

Stuart Thwaites 30-metre Konica Minolta from New Zealand led the fleet from the starting-gun and was soon over the horizon. Champagne flowed in Wicklow just four days later but the light winds prevented the giant yacht and her 24 crew from breaking the course record.

Days later, a battle emerged between the defending course champion Teng Tools skippered by Eamon Crosbie from Dun Laoghaire and Ireland's West led by Aodhan Fitzgerald from Galway. As the the overall race winner is decided on handicap time, both were contenders.

But Lisson and his team benefited from fresh winds at the back of the fleet and were able to get back to Wicklow in time to win overall.

Both Crosbie and Fitzgerald won their respective classes while Limerick's Ger O'Rourke on Altana Chieftain won Class 0. Thwaites crew won the trophy for Line Honours as first boat home.

This year's race will be remembered by all 400 competitors as one of the toughest sailing tests for many years - but for different reasons than the usual mountainous seas and harsh weather. Light winds dominated the 704-mile course, delaying the boats with the result that several ran out of food and almost starved.

Results 08/07/2006 06:00

1.Cavatina

2.Teng Tools

3.Pepperbox

4.Ireland's West

5.Imp

6.Inis Mor

7.Aquelina

8.Jeronimo

9.Blondie

10.Whitetiger

11.Isobar

12.Independent Bear

13.Nadie

14.Roxy 9

15.Minnie The Moocher

16.Alice 11

17.Altana Chieftain

18.Freya

19.Moontiger

20.Creative Play

21.Albatross

22.Ulula

23.Spirit of Kilrush

24.Konica Minolta Zana

25.Whisper

27.26Galileo

28.Lyons Solicitors

29.Solune

SUPER 0 CLASS RESULTS

1.Altana Chieftain

2.Spirit of Kilrush

3.Konica Minolta Zana

4.Whisper

5.Lyons Solicitoirs

6.Solune

0 CLASS RESULTS

1.Jeronimo

2.Whitetiger

3.Independent Bear

4.Nadie

5.Roxy 9

6.Minnie The Moocher

7.Alice 11

8.Freya

9.Creative Play

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Monday 10 July @ 09:25

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 10

All boats have crossed the finished line, behind second time winner, Cavatina

The BMW Round Ireland Race has been won by Eric Lisson and crew on the Granada 38 footer Cavatina from the Royal Cork Yacht Club who succeeded in defeating bigger and faster rivals on the 704-mile course. This is the second win for Cavatina who joins Denis Doyle's Moonduster in the record books for the same achievement.

Un-typically light winds for almost all the race ensured that victory would go to a smaller, lower handicapped entry as the overall win is decided on IRC handicap. Headwinds resulted in a slow slog for all 39 starters of which 36 completed the course.

Late on Saturday night after more than a week at sea, the last competitor sent a message to the Wicklow Sailing Club Race office notifying the organisers of his intention to retire. Facing a southerly gale for the final 90 miles and in a area known for its seven metre waves in such conditions, Mick Creedon pulled into Carlingford after reefing gear failed on his S&S 36 footer.

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Saturday 8 July'06 @ 19:33

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 9

Race is drawing to a close with one boat left to come in on day eight

The BMW Round Ireland Race was drawing to a close this evening (Saturday) as the final competitor approached Wicklow on the eighth day of racing around the 704-mile course. Just one crew remains at sea and is expected to cross the finishing-line around mid-night tonight.

In the early hours of this morning (Saturday), Eric Lisson and the crew of Cavatina reached the finishing-line at Wicklow Sailing Club and are expected to be confirmed overall winners of the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race.

The Cork yacht completed the 704-mile course shortly after 1.15am, two hours ahead of the handicap deadline needed to beat defending title holder Eamon Crosbie on “Teng Tools” that finished the course some 15 hours earlier.

Lisson and Cavatina are set to enter the record book alongside the late Denis Doyle and the famed Moonduster for winning the circumnavigation of Ireland twice.

Forecast south-east gales have yet to arrive and the crew on Sarnia from the National Yacht Club will be 37th and final finisher of the 14th edition of the race.

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Saturday 8 July'06 @ 11.31

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 8

Cavatina beats deadline to take first place

After more than six days at sea, Eric Lisson and the crew of Cavatina reached the finishing-line at Wicklow Sailing Club and are expected to be confirmed overall winners of the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race. The Cork yacht completed the 704-mile course shortly after 1.15am today (Saturday).

Lisson and Cavatina are set to enter the record book alongside the late Denis Doyle and the famed Moonduster for winning the circumnavigation of Ireland twice.

What was expected to be a nail-biting finish to beat the handicap time deadline ended with just two hours to spare for Lisson as fresh winds and the last of a favourable tide swept his Granada 38 footer southwards from the Rockabill Light off Skerries. Co. Dublin.

Waiting in anticipation was defending course champion Eamon Crosbie on Teng Tools, the 'clubhouse leader' since early on Friday morning. In turn, this Dublin skipper watched as several key rivals failed to beat their own handicap deadlines leaving just Cavatina as the main threat to his title.

Most of the remaining competitors still at sea will reach Wicklow by this evening or tomorrow morning when final overall results will be announced.

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Friday 7 July'06 @ 21:30

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 6

Outcome is hanging on a thread as last boats to come in

The outcome of the BMW Round Ireland Race was hanging by a thread last night (Friday) after more than six days of racing on the 704-mile course. More than half the 39-boat fleet had arrived back at Wicklow Sailing Club by nightfall but all eyes were turned seawards in nticipation of one finisher.

The started with a cluster of yachts that arrived with new wind that had been so desperately missed by the fleet since starting at Wicklow last weekend and while the breeze was welcome, it was of little use to the biggest boats racing who were heavily penalised for their slow race.

That shifted the emphasis towards the smaller entries and onto a group of half a dozen crews which had all featured prominently on provisional standings calculated at key check-in points around the coast.

Niall Dowling's Jeronimo from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and Anthony Richard's Minnie the Moocher from Britain arrived in the early hours of the morning, both keenly aware of the pursuing pack. Then it Aodhan Fitzgerald's Galway team on Ireland's West that finished at 8.15am.

But it was defending course champion Eamon Crosbie on the 32 footer Teng Tools that held the unofficial 'clubhouse' leader since 9.14 am as the handicaps repositioned the finishers in corrected time order.

For a time after Crosbie finished, expectation was running high that George Radley's 1980 classic 40-footer Imp would reach Wicklow by lunchtime to take over the handicap lead. But a foul tide denied the Glandore Harbour crew the honour and once again, the calculators and spread sheets were busy.

Having enjoyed the new wind at the back of the fleet and benefiting too from a low handicap, 2002 race winner Eric Lisson on Cavatina had the assembled crowd at Wicklow Sailing Club holding a collective breath late last night.

A deadline of 3.15am on Saturday morning must be beaten for Crosbie to be beaten. By tea-time, Cavatina had yet to make its report at the Rockabill Lighthouse, some 40 miles from the finish. Then at one minute to seven came the report - 40 miles to go.

However, the last stage is against the wind and effectively longer than 40 miles. Plus there is a foul tide to battle as well. Lisson may yet emerge overall winner of the BMW Round Ireland Race 2006 but this result will come down to the wire - and the second hand sweep of the countdown clock.

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Thursday 6 July'06 @ 20:27

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 6

Fresher winds bring in steady stream of competitors to the finish line.

Competitors in the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race have started arriving in steady stream of finishers just as fresher winds have arrived for those yachts still racing. After days of near calm conditions, the new breeze has spelt the end the for prospects for a big boat win for the fourth consecutive race.

Following the arrival of the super maxi Konica Minolta at Wicklow Sailing Club on Wednesday evening, the remaining five class super zero arrived en masse 15 hours later. The group have been in close contact since converging at Tory Island on the north-west coast.

The longer than expected race proved more testing for some than others. Ger O'Rourke's Cookson 50 footer Altana Chieftain menu was reduced to freeze-dried food and muesli mixed with orange juice.

Meanwhile, crew on rival entry Whisper Faimente, a 35-tonne Reichel Pugh 78 footer reportedly sent them mobile phone pictures of their steak with rosemary jús evening fare. Nevertheless, O'Rourke has emerged overall winner of the class on provisional results.

The fresh winds have brought further uncertainty to the standings of the smaller boats in open contention for the overall trophy. While there is every possibility of a shock turnaround when the slowest boats reach the finish over the weekend, a battle royal is being staged on the Irish Sea overnight.

Defending title-holder Eamon Crosbie on his 32-foot “Teng Tools” has been locked in a match race with Galway's Aodhan Fitzgerald on Ireland's West, a Beneteau 40.7 as the pair are within sight on one another and enjoying a fetch from Mew Island southwards to Wicklow and expected shortly after dawn.

Once ashore, stories of exceptionally light conditions were being told in Wicklow SC and while records have stood intact in this race, the slowest speed claimed to date stands at an excruciating 35 miles in 20 hours.

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Thursday 6 July'06 @ 01.19

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 5

New Zealand boat crosses the race line first Shortly before nine o'clock on Wednesday evening, Stuart Thwaites’ 98 foot Konica Minolta Zana from Wellington, New Zealand crossed the finishing-line at Wicklow Sailing Club to win line honours in the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race.

After four days and almost five hours at sea, headwinds tracked the fleet leader for the entire 704-mile course and denied the super-maxi either the course or race record.

Depending on breeze over the next 24 hours, Konica Minolta may emerge winner of Class Super Zero though the latest forecast calls for freshening weather to arrive from the south-west overnight which could aid the other big boats.

"We tried to push all the headlands rather than go 100 miles offshore to hunt for breeze and we did see 25 knots at one stage," said navigator Steve Hayles. "The last stage (south down the Irish Sea) was frustrating but all in all, it was awesome and I really enjoyed it."

The course record remains at 57 hours set in 2005 by JP Chomette on City Jet Solune of France, while Colm Barrington's 1998 race record of 76 hours and 23 minutes is also unbeaten.

Currently, 36 boats remain at sea racing and the next group of boats are expected to finish from mid-day on Thursday while it is likely to be Saturday before the overall winner can be confirmed.

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Wednesday 5 July'06 @ 18:06

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 4

First boat to cross finish line expected this evening.

With little or no wind on the Irish Sea, progress south towards the finishing line of the BMW Round Ireland Race has been painfully slow for the New Zealand super maxi Konica Minolta Zana. The 98-footer passed the Mew Island radio check-in point 110 miles from the finish at 00.30 on Wednesday morning. Some 18 hours later, she was on final approach to Wicklow and expected to achieve line honours at dusk.

Winds have been untypically light through the race so far. Normally a mixture of light to fresh or strong winds can be expected but headwinds have been a dominant factor since the start four days ago.

While several boats have reported running low on food supplies, there was good news for the smaller boats still only reaching the halfway stage.

Force five winds from the south-west veering westerly are expected on the west from Thursday morning and will remain favourable until the weekend.

The fresher conditions reaching the fleet from behind spells bad news for the mid-sized entries. Although dominating the provisional handicap results to date, they now stand to lose out to the back-markers in what may prove to be a classic Round Ireland Race about turn in the results.

Up to half a dozen boats have been in contention since the weekend: defending champion Eamon Crosbie on “Teng Tools”; Aodhan Fitzgerald and his Galway Bay team on Ireland's West; Anthony Richards' Minnie the Moocher from the UK; George Radley's 1980 classic Imp and Niall Dowling's Jeronimo from Dun Laoghaire.

With line honours safely secured by Konica Minolta and all records unbroken, the battle for the overall victory in the most testing of races remains wide open and it may be the weekend before final results are confirmed.

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Tuesday 4 July'06 @ 19:15

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 3

Light winds have diminished record setting dreams

After three full days racing in the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race, un-typically light winds around the 704-mile course have presented additional challenges to the 37 boats in the competition. While gear failure and retirements due to rough weather have been avoided, the race is set to last longer than most boats have planned for.

The first 'casualty' of the conditions has been Stuart Thwaites’ Konica Minolta Zana, the 98-footer from New Zealand that has led the fleet from the outset on Saturday afternoon at Wicklow. Just six knots of wind passing Malin Head, County Donegal the most northerly point of Ireland meant the super-maxi missed the crucial tidal gate at Rathlin Island.

Two records were up for grabs: the course record stands at 57 hours and race record set in 2005 by JP Chomette on City Jet Solune while Colm Barrington's 1998 race record of 76 hours and 23 minutes is also unbeaten.

Meanwhile, the battle for the overall win on handicap corrected time is being fought out by several smaller boats. Eamon Crosbie's, “Teng Tools” that is defending the 2004 title continues to feature in the latest provisional standings along with Aodhan Fitzgerald's Galway entry Ireland's West.

Dun Laoghaire yacht Jeronimo is also on the top of the results and has the added edge of 1996 winner Michael Boyd on board with skipper Niall Dowling.

Anthony Richards' Minnie the Moocher from the UK is in the hunt. In the 2004 event, Richards saw his hopes of overall victory end on the final approach to the finish due to rudder bearing problems.

However, even these contenders may be disappointed as fresh winds forecast to reach those still at sea on Thursday morning may bring the back-markers up the course in faster time. Such an outcome might see Eric Lisson's Cavatina repeat her 2002 result when the Royal Cork YC boat won overall.

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Monday 3 July'06 @ 21.52

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 – UPDATE 2

Two boats have retired from the race as the competition moves to the Atlantic

After 48 hours of sailing in the BMW Round Ireland Race, two of the 39 boat fleet have retired from the competition as the event moves onto the Atlantic Ocean.

Both are competitors in the two-handed division and were in the leading positions in their class before retiring. Yannick Monnier and Michael Greely on Southbound.ie broke a key fitting on their mainsail that cannot be repaired at sea. Ironically, the pair were close to their home port of Dingle where they have arrived this evening (Monday).

Mike Jacques of Nunatak has also retired as slow progress in the light headwinds would not allow them sufficient time to reach the finishing-line at Wicklow before the weekend when the crew have prior commitments.

Meanwhile, Konica Minolta Zana continues to lead the fleet on the water and was enjoying 22 knot north-easterly winds this afternoon (Monday) as they passed the Eagle Island mandatory radio check-in point off the County Mayo coast.

Speculation is growing that the New Zealand entry may be able to set a new course record but must finish before 4pm on Tuesday to realise this target.

The actual race for the overall trophy is being dominated by smaller entries racing on IRC handicap. Based on the Fastnet Rock check-in times, defending title holder Eamon Crosbie on Teng Tools and Aodhan Fitzgerald's Galway team on Ireland's West were both covering each other as light winds hampered progress of the Kerry coastline.

Sunday night also provided an additional bonus to the fleet when passing the West Cork coast. A spectacular display of phosphorescence was witnessed by the crew Pepperbox who reported a school of up to six dolphin who played with their yacht for 20 minutes during the night, escorting the Howth YC team on their race towards Innistearacht.

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Sunday 2 July, 2006 @ 22.10hrs

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006 - UPDATE

Dramatic start – but all 38 boats have passed Tuskar Rock

It was a dramatic start for all, though after the first 24 hours of sailing in the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race, all 38 boats have safely passed the Tuskar Rock on Ireland's South-Eastern corner. Light winds have befallen the entire coastline as far as the famous Fastnet Rock off West Cork and are proving testing for many race hopefuls.

The race began as the gunshot from Committee boat, the L.E. Aoife marked the start of the race. Unfortunately, Lascar was recalled as she got into difficulties with her jib wrapped around the forestay, which unfortunately put her across the line before the start gun. She came back around the stern of the Committee Boat, where she re-started and joined the fleet four and a half minutes later.

The biggest yacht ever to compete in the race continues to lead the fleet with a tactical start, Konica Minolta Zana called in at the Fastnet mandatory radio check-in at 1615 this afternoon, just over 24 hours since the start of the race at Wicklow.

Moderate winds are forecast from the south-west corner off the County Kerry coastline and at 98 feet overall, the New Zealand leader should be able to make a fast getaway from the becalmed pack astern.

Based on handicap corrected times at the Tuskar Rock, Konica Minolta Zana was leading overall while Roy Heiner on his VOLVO 60 footer chartered to Lyons Solicitors of Dublin was in second place.

Current Round Ireland record holder JP Chomette on Solune was in third place in a repeat of the 2004 BMW Round Ireland Race that saw similar conditions on the second day slow his progress.

Nevertheless, there is a real prospect of a slower race than normal.

Limerick entry Altana Chieftain reported total calm off the Old Head of Kinsale and was surrounded by smaller boats at 1800 today. The crew of the Cookson 50 provisioned for four days but based on current progress, their finish could be later than Wednesday.

Ireland's West, the Galway entry skippered by Aodhan Fitzgerald came within three miles of Chieftain before tacking out to sea in search of breeze.

Defending title holder Eamon Crosbie on Teng Tools was within sight at that time but placed mid-fleet on corrected handicap time.

END

Saturday 1st July'06 @ 22.10

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race

The BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race got off to a flying start today, with the sun in the sky and a 15 knot breeze sweeping across Wicklow; it really was a perfect day for both spectators and competitors.

You could feel the tension in the air as Race Organiser, Denis Noonan counted down the last few seconds on the clock, months of preparation all came down to the next few minutes. Konica Minolta Zana got away from the pack early with a great port end start and took her rightful place at the top of the fleet, with Whisper, Solune and Jeronimo following suit.

Konica Minolta Zana has already passed the Tuskar at the time of 20.44, averaging a speed of 19 knots. The other Super Zero are closing in on the Tuskar and are expected to be checking in by early Sunday morning.

END

Friday 30 June'06 @15.23

BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race 2006

With just under 24 hours until the gun sounds off across Wicklow Bay, all the competitors are putting the final touches on their boats for the start of the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race which is due to start at 16.00 tomorrow. With 39 boats confirmed for the start and with yachts ranging in size from 30 foot the whole way up to 98 foot this really is going to be a race to remember.

Some competitors are feeling the pressure though, with last minute RORC Safety Checks and changes being carried out on the boats in both Dun Laoire and in Wicklow.

With the likes of Konica Minolta Zana, Lyon Solicitors and Solune making up part of our Super Zero Class, these speed machines will definitely be challenging Colm Barrington's record of 76 hours, 23 minutes and 57 seconds

However, Altana Chieftain is still definitely one to watch this year, just fresh from her runaway victory of their class in the British IRC Nationals. Nonetheless, it will still be the smaller boats like previous winners, Imp and Teng Tools who will be contending for the overall title on handicap.

Unfortunately the race has couple of casualties this year in the form of Irisha, skippered by Adrian Lee who has been a regular with seven BMW Round Ireland Yacht Races under his belt, and State o Chassis, who have all fell ill to gear failure. Especially sorely missed will be Mike Golding's Ecover, whose yacht suffered damage recently.

Wicklow has been a hive of activity since the festival kicked off here on Wednesday, and will not finish until the final boat ties up on the pier. With live music last night in the Club House and the Skippers Reception tonight this really is not one to miss.

END

Further Information/Contacts:

For information about the top boats you can call our hotline on 1540 933 269. Or you can receive twice-daily updates direct to your phone by subscribing to our exclusive text service by texting BMW to 53307.

For more information about the race and the social calendar please go

to: www.roundirelandyachtrace.ie/ www.bmw.ie

- Ends -

For further information please contact:

Patricia Crowley Corporate Communications Manager

Tel: 01 862 8231 Email: Patricia.Crowley@bmw.ie

Mob: 086 174 2729

Michael Nugent Sales and Marketing Director

Tel: 01 862 8221 Email: Michael.Nugent@bmw.ie

Mob: 0876804221

Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com

Simon Johnson Race Office Press Officer

Race Office: johnson@vodafone.ie / info@roundirelandyachtrace.ie

Telephone: 040425100

Mobile: 087 8389096