Gul RS200 National Champs, Day 4

It was a glorious sunny morning in Portland for the fourth day of the Gul RS National Championships but there was a very feeble breeze so the fleet was quiet happy to sit on the shore and wait. Eventually at 12.30 the race team in the bay reported they had 6-7 knot easterly sea breeze and the fleet was called out. Race 7 started with crews just sat on the side, it was soon evident that the early starters were favoured and most of the leading overall contenders were well to the fore at the first mark. Dave and Nikki Derby led at the first mark and proceeded to yacht away from the fleet to win by a huge margin with Paul and Suzie Hammett pulling through to second. Behind there a close tussle between Jon Lewis/Paula Hall, David Giles/Fiona Clark and Tom/Jo Hewitson, which was going to be very important for the overall lead. David Giles got the better of the final run to claim third with Hewitsons 4th and Lewis 5th. Race 8 started in exactly the same conditions but this time the late starters were very favoured. Ann Jackson/Sheena Craig led at the first mark with several of the leading contenders well adrift. The first run was a very nervous affair and there were big gains by several boats. The Derby�s and Hewitsons worked the right hand side of the beat to move into first and second on the second beat and had a close tussle for a lap. With Giles lying around 7th the Hewitsons looked as if they were heading for a strong overall lead overnight. The final beat had seen the wind ease and it really faded for the final run. Nervous leaders looked for wind but were moving very slowly on to the left of the middle of the run. Any boat in the top that stayed further right kept in the best of the dying breeze for longer and by passed the leading pair. In the final twist fresh breeze suddenly filled in from the South West with the leading boats 100 yards from the last mark. David Giles appeared from the a very tight pack at the mark to win the race from the very fast finishing Mike Saul/Sophie Hartley with John Greenland/Pippa Williams third. The Derbys limped in fourth with the disgruntled Hewitsons 7th. Giles/Clark now hold a three point overall lead over the Hewitsons with the Derbys still in the frame although 9 points adrift and dependant on Giles having stinker on the final day. In a final twist in a Championship that is already been full of surprises Giles is being protested by Jon Lewis for two incidents in the first race which could have great bearing on who leads overnight.