Two points separate the top three teams going into the final day of the 44Cup Calero Marinas off Lanzarote.
Racing out of Puerto Calero again tested crews, with shifting winds forcing a 2-hour 15-minute delay before racing began.
Team Aqua started strongly. Chris Bake’s crew won the opening race after heading right early and holding off Aleph Racing to the finish.
They followed with a second place to move clear overall, but a poor final race dropped them to third by day’s end.
“We were penalised and then struggled to restart,” said Bake. “That race was gone, but the other two were good with strong boat speed.”
Conditions proved demanding throughout the day. “It was all over God’s creation,” Bake added.
Team Nika found form in the second race. Vladimir Prosikhin’s crew led from the first mark to secure their first win of the regatta.
Their progress stalled later after contact with Artemis Racing at the start. Team Nika finished seventh and received penalty points.
“I reacted too late,” said Prosikhin. “It was crowded, and we didn’t handle it well.”
Peninsula Racing ended the day on a high. John Bassadone’s team won the final race after a late tactical call downwind.
“It was a gybing war,” said Bassadone. “That last gybe was crucial and won us the race.”
Aleph Racing (with Ireland's Cian Guilfoyle and Oisin McClleland on board) posted the most consistent scores of the day but remains fourth overall, 11 points off the podium.
Racing resumes at midday tomorrow with similar conditions expected and an offshore breeze forecast.
