Damp & cloudy conditions, 10 knots & the odd shift to exercise the ‘grey matter’ today. Arthur Henderson & Jamie Webb struck lucky as pathfinder when the wind flicked right enough to stop those from the left becoming a threat. However, it was the Class Chairman Will Taylor & brother Matt who rounded the top mark first, Arthur & Jamie close behind in 2nd. By the leeward gate it was overnight leaders David & Sophie shooting up ‘a ladder’ from 15th to first with the right shift just as the rain started. The shifty wind under the rain clouds resulted in more place changes up the final beat & run, but it was Arthur & Jamie taking line honours from Steve Cockerill & Emma Clarke, with Mozzy & James in 3rd.
Within 20 minutes of the last boat finishing the RO was back in the gate boat ready to start race 4. A right flick of a shift resulted in the AP going up but 10 minutes later we were back on track. Tommy & Charlie were the first to make headway out of the middle of the line but it was Richard Thomas & Tom Goodey rounding the first mark in front, Elliot & Martin in 2nd, Tommy & Charlie in 3rd. By the gate Arran & Haydn had climbed from 4th to first, a lead they held to the finish. Behind them the battle continued but it was Elliot & Martin holding on to 2nd whilst Tommy & Charlie climbed back from 5th to 3rd on the final downwind leg.
In the races so far the average time between the first & last finisher is 14 minutes, that’s one boat every 4.5 seconds! The overall points are incredibly close too, so with 3 more race days to go, the game of ‘snakes & ladders’ continues.