A three-way battle for the overall win at the inaugural Irish Etchells Championship sponsored by Affinity Insurance saw Nils Razmilovic with Brian Hammersley and Mark Nicholls defeat triple America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts by one point. Ante Razmilovic took third by the same margin.

The reserve day of the series was used yesterday (Monday) after gales disrupted the regatta on Sunday afternoon and three boats pulled out of the championship due to damage.

Best of the home fleet was fifth for the Royal Cork YC’s Mike McCann with Des Flood and and Stephen Quin crewing with a clear seven points over Graham Elmes of the Royal St George YC.

This event marked Coutts first outing in the Etchells since 2000. “We had good competition and it was nice to come and do a relaxed regatta,” he said at Howth YC last night. “I’ve been taking this year pretty easy. Since the Alinghi thing my e-mail in-box has been full of options but I’d like to do the Bacardi Cup and some one-design racing.”

Overall Results (after six races)

1 China White (N Razmilovic – Royal Corinthian YC 9.00)

2 Etilean (R Coutts – Geneva 10.00)

3 Swedish Blue (A Razmilovic – Royal Thames YC/RCYC – 11.00)

4 Bushfire K Williamson (Royal Perth YC – 22.00)

5 Don’t Dilly Dally (M McCann – Royal Cork YC – 26.00)

6 Claudia III (G Elmes – Royal St George YC – 33.00)