RS Elites at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Day 5

Paul Fisk, in RSsailing.com, crewed by Ruth and Tess Allan, defied the laws of gravity to clinch 1st in today's race. A long and breezy downwind leg saw skilful spinnaker handling from the Allan sisters, who sail a 29er together. This enabled them to round the first mark with a good lead ahead of Outlaw, Aeolus and E'Tu. The chasing boats were keen to start the beat, hoping to utilise the extra weight carried by some of the crewmembers (particularly on E'tu) to keep the boat flat.

However, the beat that followed saw impeccable boat handling skills and tactics from Fisk and the Allan sisters, resulting in them rounding the windward mark even further ahead of the chasing pack! Meanwhile Aeolus and E'Tu had passed Outlaw and rounded the second mark in a close battle for second place, already accepting that RSsailing.com were cruising to an emphatic victory.

The final beat saw E'Tu use their superior upwind boat speed to draw level with Aeolus in a mad dash for the finish. It looked like E'Tu were going to cruise into second when a Press Boat accelerated hard in front of them, the resulting wake swamped their cockpit. Despite David Botterill's valiant bucketing, Aeolus crossed the line to retain second place only moments ahead of E'Tu in third. Outlaw finished fourth ahead of Ciao Bella and Matterhorn Jack in fifth and sixth respectively.

Results on the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week website.