Day 3, Leander 2003

Race 6 It was a dark, cold, overcast morning. There were many sore bodies in the rigging area, from the effort in three hard races yesterday, or was it their efforts at the Wunder Bar last night? There was a moderate 12 knot NE breeze, just puffy and shifty enough to make tactics interesting. Everyone was a bit slow to get going in the morning, including the race committee, the start being delayed 10 minutes or so. No-one knew quite what to make of the breeze. The locals went left, as they often do in a sea breeze, but this was no sea breeze. This only put them in a huge hole, as the out-of-towners, seeing something the locals didn't, went to the right shore, and were handsomely ahead at the top mark. This race was notable for one thing. Tim Bartlett, aka "The Guru" had found another gear on Dimension Polyant, and was unstoppable. He pushed out to a huge lead, and second, well madam there was no second. Okay, there was a second, it was Stagecoach, an important race to increase their lead over their nearest rivals. Third was Nuplex, starting to find some form, followed by Loyal continuing their great form from yesterday afternoon. Liquid finished a couple of places ahead of Design Source, overtaking them on the leader board into second.

Race 7

The sea breeze has kicked in by now, the breeze building to a nice 16 knot NE, flat water with a short chop. A big bunch went for the boat end of the line with several over. Liquid dipping back, Chemical Weapon and 92 MoreFM didn't scoring an OCS. Most of the fleet went left, Dimension Polyant showing a clean pair of heels after an ordinary start to be leading at the top mark. They looked unstoppable now in a breeze. Stagecoach was buried deep in the fleet, giving Dimension a good chance to eat into their lead, and looking for the first time as genuine championship contenders. It was a boatspeed race up the beat, B3D, Loyal, Nuplex and Liquid showing they were all quick in the breeze. They was a big bunch getting to the bottom mark at the same time, causing chaotic scenes, Nuplex almost capsizing to windward before turning round after missing the mark. Liquid squeezed inside the bunch to move into second. In some tight racing, Loyal passed Liquid upwind, and both were passed by B3D on the reach. Liquid then passed both upwind and held on downwind to finish second behind the untouchable Dimension Polyant. B3D capsized downwind, letting Loyal continue their great run of form for third, Design Source coming through for fourth.

Alex Vallings (Nuplex) and Lyn Holland (Exonet)

Race 8

All eyes were on Dimension Polyant. Could anyone get close enough to stop them from their third win on the trot, and march up the leader-board? The race was a classic. Dimension was buried at the start, with Stagecoach, B3D, Loyal, Liquid and Nuplex showing a clear boatspeed advantage off the line, and rounding the top min that order. B3D again capsize round the top. A big bunch at the bottom, Loyal picking a better layline and getting round the outside of the slow, deep Liquid. A couple of position changes, Liquid showing good speed upwind, but slow on the reaches, Stagecoach untroubled in the front. Loyal had a bad drop, allowing Liquid back through into second. Exonet and Dimension went hard left and made huge gains, Dimension crossing Liquid into second. Stagecoach had a crucial win, consolidating their lead overall, Dimension making a fine comeback to be second in race 8 and overall, Followed by Liquid, Nuplex and Exonet. The unlucky Loyal slipping to sixth. The excitement was not quite over, Nuplex breaking their mast soon after finishing the race, on the tight reach back to the club. Du-oh.