The Yachting Monthly Triangle Race 2014 turned heads among the speed brigade as some unlikely cruising boats got some serious placings. No-one expected to see a Rival 41, a Gib Sea 35 or a Westerly Oceanlord taking home prizes, but such was the case in this 19 boat drag race, at least on some legs.

The race started in Torquay in light airs with the fleet either trying to find back-eddies around headlands, sea breezes inshore or make tidal gates offshore.

At the finish line off Kinsale in Ireland, in Class 1, Jerry Freeman and Rob Nelson sailing Juliette, a J105 came first on corrected time with Paul and Jan Brant sailing Ninjod, a Sunfast 32, coming second and Giles Alden and Ken Morgan sailing Red Rooster, another Sunfast 32 taking third place.

Neil Millward and Peter Robson sailing Axeman, an X332, came first on corrected time with Amylou, a Maxi 1100, sailed by Gary Heywood and Russell Hawkins coming second and Vela Fresca, a Dufour 34 sailed by Neil Matson and Adrian Troop taking third place in Class Two.

And in Class 3 Dequila, a Rival 41, sailed by Dave Butters and son Peter came first with Jame Moore and Philip Pryor in the Contessa 32 Katisha taking second place and Nazca II, an OOD 34, sailed by Mike Wilkinson and Paul Millard coming third.

The second leg from Kinsale to Treguier had Juliette in the lead again for Class 1 followed by Ninjod and third was Xanadu, sailed by Simon Costain and Paul Hooker an X-50 coming third.

Class 2 winner for this leg was Amylou followed by Axeman and a creditable third place was taken by offshore newcomers Clair Reed and Luke Lazell sailing Deydreamer, a Dehler 36.

Class 3 was led by Dequila, Katisha was second and Scaramouche, a Gib Sea 35, sailed by Chris and Toby Walker, coming third. The last leg for this class – Treguier to Torquay was Scaramouche 1st; Dequila, 2nd and Katisha, 3rd. For Class 2 it was Amylou, Sulaco, a Westerly Oceanlord sailed by Andrew Moncrieff and Mike Pearce, and Deydreamer taking third place again.

Overall winners were Juliette, first, Amylou, second and Ninjod, third.