A half-naked bowman on Class Zero favourite Mustang Sally saved the opening race of the Heineken Autumn League at Howth yesterday when a course reading error was accidentally overheard on the VHF radio. More than 200 yachts entered the final series of the season for east coast based keelboats that also attracted several Welsh crews.

Crewman Donal Small had been obliged by a dare to start the race wearing just boxer shorts and sea boots and had gone below to dress fully after the start when he heard the Race Officer mention that the fleet appeared to be sailing the wrong course. After checking the course card once more, the error was spotted and the fourth placed yacht led the pack off on the correct heading and subsequently won the day on handicap.

Meanwhile, the new course card proved decisive in the 1720 Sportsboat Class as well when both Philip Watson on Tuff Stuff and Martin Byrne on Key Events hit the starting line perfectly ahead of the 16 boat class and took early leads.

However, Byrne and his crew had sailed to Howth from Dun Laoghaire early yesterday morning and had still to collect a course card. Following Watson appeared to be the best option for following the correct course.

Gordon Maguire was also competing in the Sportsboat class on board David Cagney's Irish Shipping.

However, an overall zealous start saw the Howth boat "oncourse-side" and it was forced to return to the line. Cagney still managed to reel in many of the others over the course of the race but still had to accept seventh place by the finish.