Exabyte 2 powers downwind under her Series 2000 Runner and Checkmate Carbon Mainsail. Photo: S White.   Exabyte shines offshore at the De Guigand Bowl Race The second offshore race of the RORC season was held last weekend with an evening start for the De Guingand Bowl race to St Vaast. A fleet of over 90 boats turned out at the Royal Yacht Squadron line. The 83-mile course included a non spinnaker reach in 12-14 knots to the Forts where the boats hardened up slightly and continued to the Nab Tower. From there it was a beat across the Channel with the vast majority of time spent on Starboard tack as the wind was blowing at 190-210 degrees. During the night the wind built to a maximum of 17 knots. At the IRC 1 start Shaun Frohlich's Banks Sails powered IMX40 Exabyte 2 flew off the line carrying her Checkmate Kevlar Smoke Jib Top with the true wind angle of 85-95 degrees and showed great speed to lead the class out of the Forts. After forcing the IC45 Bounder to tack off just after the Nab Tower E2 had a lonely night until they approached the French coast the following morning where they crossed just behind the French IMX40 Cajou. This resulted in a tacking duel as Cajou carefully protected her lead to the finish. When the results were calculated E2 had scored a 2nd in IRC 1 and IRC Overall, 18 seconds behind Cajou. Following on from their win in IRC 1 and 2nd Overall in the Cervantes Trophy race this sets the boat up well for the rest of the offshore season. Back to Exabyte minisite