420 Nationals at Llandudno Sailing Club - Day 3

Westerly Force 2-3, early rain cleared by launch time, leaving rest of the day dry with occasional sunshine.

Race 6 – a couple of boats noticed the late port bias and crossed the fleet, with Tim Saxton & Claire Lasko rounding Mark 1 nearly one minute clear of the fleet. They went on to extend their lead on the windward/leeward course. The chasing bunch had close racing, with Ben Saxton & James Foskett finishing just ahead of Sophie Ainsworth & Jasmine Husband.

Race 7 was sailed on the same course, but this time Claire Walsh & Lucy Cripps established an early lead which they held to the finish, followed by Ollie Dix & Phil Lasko and series leaders Richard Mason & Dan Shieber.

Race 8 reverted to a trapezoid course, but shortened at the end of the top reach. Owain Matthews & Joe Williams had their second race win, followed by Walsh/Cripps and Mason/Schieber who gained an important two places on the last leg.

In the overall standings after eight races, Mason/Schieber lead Saxton/Foskett by three points, who are seven points ahead of Matthews/Williams. First girls are the Scottish pairing of Joanne MacDonald and Laurie Marsden in fourth place overall.

At the well-attended class AGM on Wednesday evening, the sailors elected Carla Stanley as class Chairman, and Peter Gray as sailor representative. Other posts for the coming year include Geoff Lennon (Treasurer), Charles Ainsworth (Training) and Peter Saxton (Sailing Secretary).

Simon Wergan, RYA Youth Racing Manager was on the water all day to watch the racing, and also attended the AGM, where he explained the RYA perspective on performance and funding. Following discussion, the sailors voted to amend the GBR selection criteria for the Junior Europeans to become the first two open boats, first two all-girl boats and then the next three boats, even if these three boats also attended the 420 World Championships.

Results after Day 3: