RS Elite National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 3

RS Elite National Championship day 3 © Peter Hickson Photography

Tom Hewitson, crewed by Colin Smith and Jo Hewitson, sailing RS Elite 7 Shaken Not Stirred has regained the lead in the RS Elite National Championship held at Hayling Island Sailing Club. Shaken Not Stirred's scored one first, one second and one third place in each of the three races, with an overall net points score of 14 points for the series so far. Hewitson and crew have therefore regained the lead from yesterday's leaders, Russell Peters and crew (Zeb Elliott and James Grant) who are now lying second with 15 points overall. With two races to go on the final day the championship will go right down to the wire.

Ossie Stewart and crew (Tom Stewart and Alice Mastrerman) in RS Elite 67 More T Vicar have held on to their third place overall with a net points total of 28. Class chairman Paul Fisk, crewed by Richard Tucker and Pippa Jubb, in RS Elite 110 Noughty Legs Eleven has moved up to fourth place with 31 points and Peter Copsey and crew (Debbie Jarvis and Tom Darling) in RS Elite 46 The Doctor have moved into fifth place with 37 points overall. With Roddy Bowerman and crew (Owen Bowerman and Midge Watkins) in RS Elite 40 Basil just one point behind in sixth place the competition for the final places at the top end of the fleet is intense and we can expect to see some place changes on the last day (25th July).

Conditions were much lighter than on the previous day. The wind was a light mainly southerly breeze which varied between 225 and 125 degrees during the course of the three races, providing challenges for the competitors and for the race committee. There were some delays while courses were re-laid to take account of significant wind changes and one general recall leading to a restart under black flag.

The 'daily Duckham's' award for the day, for the greatest mess up or blunder on the part of the competitors or race team had not been decided at the time of writing, but there is now a decision on day two's Duckham's award. The competitors unanimously voted to give it to race officer Mark Darling for being overly demanding of the mark layers!

Results after Day 3: