Harken Musto Skiff UK National Championship at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Day 3

Day 3 dawned wet and breezy and the fleet set off enthusiastically into the bay for a big day on the water!

The first race started in 10-15 knots and a rolling, but confused sea state. Dan Kilsby and Andy Peake lead around the windward mark having worked up the left hand side of the course. An extra layer of excitement/ distraction was added to proceedings as the fleet was visited by a 8 foot Porbeagle Shark, sniffing around for swimmers! Kilsby escaped unscathed to take the win, closely followed by Bruce Keen and birthday boy Jamie Hilton.

A shark on the race course on day 3 of the Musto Skiff UK Nationals at Castle Cove SC - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

With the wind against the tide the fleet was pushing the start line hard for the second race of the day. On the second attempted start the fleet got away with a few pileups at the committee boat. Hilton was first to the top mark, but lost the lead when he gybed and went for a swim. Keen and Peake gained downwind by going all the way to the port layline, followed closely by Andy Rice. Keen eventually took the win, followed by Vincent who timed his gybe for the shift on the last downwind perfectly and snuck past the chasing pack.

Musto Skiff UK Nationals at Castle Cove SC day 3 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Andy Rice smashed it up the first beat from the port end heading out fast on starboard with his plate raised in a building breeze and an increasingly lumpier sea. Hilton in fine form, and class legend Nigel Wallbank led the chasing pack. Come the leeward Rice rounded well clear of Hilton and unfortunately for Nigel he had a brush with the mark leaving him with a spin. Hilton narrowed the gap by the top mark and took the lead on the hoist with Andy slowing to sort his knitting. Hilton took the win for a Birthday Bullet, and the first to break the Stokes Bay stranglehold on race wins. Andy took second with Schooling taking a solid third.

Musto Skiff UK Nationals at Castle Cove SC day 3 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Race 4 started with the fleet clocking on to the fact that whatever happens, just go Left. Even if everything suggests otherwise, just go left. Our illustrious leader Bruce was led around the course by George Hand, who, with Bruce had secured the pin end of the line for the go left gain feature. Bruce managed to overhaul George on the final beat to the finish and take the bullet. George grumpily finished in 2nd and Andrew Peake taking a solid 3rd.

Tonight the fleet have enjoyed a BBQ and are now involved in full sized hungry hippos.

Results after Day 3: