Day 2, Leander 2003

Dan Leech's foils with Paul MacIntosh looking on.

Race 3

The day started hot and windless, racing postponed an hour or so until the sea-breeze arrived. Racing got underway with a moderate but building NE, and flat water. The light guys were to the fore this race, Design source taking a win to move up to first overall, overnight leaders Chemical Weapon having a bad race in their favoured conditions. Liquid was second to stay in touch, Nuplex taking third.

Race 4

The start was delayed slightly to give the race officer time to eat his lunch. The breeze had built to a nice 16-18 knot NE. Time for the bigger boys to show their stuff. The afternoon resulted in some of the tightest and best skiff racing I have ever witnessed. The top eight or so boats, despite the design differences were all very even in speed, tactics at the tight top and bottom marks becoming crutial. A bad hoist or drop and three boats would pass you. The increased breeze brought the wing mark more into play also, the bigger boys being able to point higher and gain places. Stagecoach sailed a fast, controlled race and took a win, closely followed by Nuplex and Dimension Polyant. Results were mixed up a bit, Chappie and Nellie in 92 MoreFM enjoying the breeze for their best place, a fifth, previous leaders Design Source having a 10th, leaving it wide open. Meridian Energy continued their bad luck, breaking a prod and retiring, but fitting a new one in time for the next race.

Meridian Energy failed to get "above" the committee boat to finish.
This is where their prod went in. (Dave n Tim)

Race 5

The regatta was wide open, who would put their hand up and wear the yellow jersies tonight? It was the Wellington lads on Stagecoach, continuing their momentum with a second fine win. Also putting their hand up, in their first Leander were the young guys on Loyal, showing a huge improvement for a second place. Design Source snuck ahead of Liquid on the last downwind to narrowly hold onto second overall, a point ahead of Liquid. Paul Roe and Ashton Smith on Subwoofer finally showed some form for their best place, a 6th. Dimension Polyant broke a prod and retired, but the highlight of the day had to come from the luckless Meridian Energy. Pushing hard to lay the finish, a badly timed gust and tow-away, and bang, they T-boned the finishing boat, kebabing it nicely, with a prod-sized hole on the side of the boat.