Rolex Swan European Regatta - Day 4

SWAN 48 JACOBITE TAKES OVERALL LEAD GOING INTO FINAL DAY

Stephen James' Swan 48 Jacobite has gone into the the lead overall following a frustrating day's racing in the fourth day of the Rolex Swan European Regatta.

Helmed by Mark Healey, Jacobite won race 5 ahead of Swan 46 Crackerjack in third place in the big boat Division F. Only four points separates the two boats going into the final day's racing with a discard in hand.

Race 5 got underway mid-afternoon following a long postponement due to lack of wind. The race began in a light SE 5 knot breeze but the 57 boat fleet had to contend with major wind shifts which saw both spinnakers and headsails being used on the same leg.

"In a race like today one advantage of being a slower boat is that you can look 300 yards up the track to see what is going on to try and put yourself in the right position," explained Healey. "Today we had two or three different winds only 200 yards apart."

Poor results from both Swan 441 Menenes and Swan 43 Cisne in Division G has probably put them out of the picture for the Overall Trophy. First place in the small boat fleet went to John MacIntyre's Swan 36 Shaytana and now these three will battle it out for division honours tomorrow with the stakes stacked in Cisne's favour.

With a forecast of Force 3 or less for tomorrow morning it is going to be another light air race. Asked about his game plan for tomorrow, Healey commented: "We will try and get a good start on the most favoured part of the line and keep looking ahead. It will be fairly one on one with Crackerjack and as today showed never give up until it's all over."

More information: www.rys.org.uk

Provision Results - Race 5:

Division F (provisional)
1st Jacobite (Swan 48 / Stephen James)
2nd Northern Child (Swan 51 / David & Peter Collins)
3rd Crackerjack (Swan 46 / Keith Miller)
Division G (provisional)
1st Shaytana (Swan 36 / John MacIntyre)
2nd Djambo (Swan 38 / Rem Schuijt)
3rd Odette of Hamble (Swan 37 / Jurjen & Catherine Lunshof)

Provision Results - Overall

Overall (provisional)
1st Jacobite (15 points / 4-2-1-7-1)
2nd Crackerjack (19 points / 10-1-2-3-3)
3rd Cisne (21 points / 6-1-1-5-8)

Overall - Division F (provisional)
1st Jacobite (15 points)
2nd Crackerjack (19 points)
3rd Assuage (24 points)

Overall - Division G (provisional)
1st Cisne (21 points)
2nd Menenes (29 points)
3rd Shaytana (30 points)