Grant Gordon's crew on the J/97 Fever Glenfiddich yesterday cut the corner at Inchmarnock to shrug off the challenge from 2011's reigning Scottish Series champions on Jackaroo and keep their unbeaten record intact at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series on Loch Fyne.

The Fever crew were head-to-head against the identical Jackaroo at the turn around the island to the south of Loch Fyne, but their audacious move paid off.

For the IRC handicap fleet, the 25-mile Round Inchmarnock Race was a reminder of days gone by, when the top racers used to compete on short inshore passage races around the loch, rather than short, intense two-buoy courses. The final downwind legs saw a finish near the entrance to the harbour under spinnaker, a treat for the spectators enjoying the sunshine.

Winds peaked at nearly 30 knots in the bigger gusts out near the island, but an average of 16-19kts ensured that the sport was always fast and furious.

Such brisk winds were very much in the comfort zone of the big, powerful First 47.7 Playing FTSE. Three times Scottish Series Trophy winner Jonathan Anderson and his crew were unstoppable in IRC Class 1 and lead their class overall. But it was the Class 2 winner, Salamander XXI, which won the trophy for the best corrected time in the Bowmore fleet, while the redoubtable Glenafton, the famous green Mylne ketch, racing for one day only, sailed the fastest corrected time in the Tunnocks fleet.