#rs – Northern Ireland's Tiffany and Simon Brien along with Graham Bailey are in third overall at the RS Elite National Championships with one race left to sail to day in Cowes.
There were more testing conditions on the Solent yesterday, but despite a delay while the wind shifted and settled in the middle of the day, three races were completed as scheduled.
Crauford McKeon's Kandoo team tested their nerves - after their lobster pot issue yesterday were buried at the start of race 7 and simply couldn't find a way back, finishing 18th and using their second discard. This demonstrates how evenly matched the boats are and how easy it is to drop down the fleet. Kandoo came back with 2, 1 to lead the championship with just one race to go - but they cannot afford another mistake so it is far from in the bag.
In contrast Andy Jameson in Eloise has the most consistent series, adding 5, 3, 3 and laying in second overall, two points ahead of Tiff Brien in Kin whose 2, 5, 9 kept them right in touch.
Kiss had the best day, with Martin Wadhams team posting 3, 1, 6 in their new boat to maintain 4th overall going into the last race. The top four all have a chance to win this championship, and there have been races with nearly all of them well back in the pack so the stage is set for the showdown on Sunday morning.
The Class dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron last night began with Wight Vodka cocktails on the lawn and everyone looking glamorous as they sat down to dinner with a stunning panoramic view across the Solent. None of this could have happened without the sponsorship of Wight Vodka, Crewsaver and a host of support from many Isle of Wight businesses.
Top six with 1 race to go:
1. Kandoo III- Crauford McKeon, Paul Botterill, Rupert Holmes, 15 points
2. Eloise - Andy Jameson, James Grant, Lizzie Vickers, 21
3. Kin -Tiffany Brien, Graham Bailey, Simon Brien, 23
4. Kiss - Martin Wadhams, Paul Fisk, Amanda Wadhams, 28
5. Pipefish - Peter Lister, Pippa Wilson, David Hales, 31
6. Aeolus - Jono, Lyn & David Brown, 33
