Noble Marine Rooster RS400 National Championships at East Lothian Yacht Club - Day 4

Chris Eames and Rachel Tilley - Noble Marine Rooster RS400 Nationals day 4 © Steve Fraser

With a steady westerly blowing through the morning, we waited for the 13:00 start and the release from the beach. What WAS going to happen with the wind. Would it stay in the West - or swing to the East as it had the previous day.

The RO was keen to try and run three races - but two would give the fleet the elusive second discard - so calculators were at the ready

Just as we thought the east wind was going to win, the west came good. The short delay also worked in everyone's favour as now we had the ebb holding us back from the line.

First around the top mark was Jon Gay and Amanda Henderson from Roo Purves. Both had worked the left pretty hard. In fact, any tack to the right was costly on the first beat. LEFT WAS BEST.

Roo and Calum win day 4 - Noble Marine Rooster RS400 Nationals - photo © Steve Fraser

The second lap proved tricky. 'There were some major gains to be made - but the writer was oblivious to them. The Robertson's appeared from no-where, whilst Chris and Rachel had worked the percentages moving slowly through the fleet. Jamie Calder and Keith were mixing it with the Cockerill's. Not so much as a chocolate wrapper between them. However, the final lap was a super place changer. If you took the left gate - you were going to make some major gains as the wind started to clock right. A slow and progressive shift to the right meant for some great circle routes for those looking for the pot of gold on the left. I can promise it WAS painful.

Roo Purves and Callum Gibb - Noble Marine Rooster RS400 Nationals day 4 - photo © Steve Fraser

On the last downwind the leaders took the long starboard aiming to gain the most from the header coming back to the left as the wind continued to shift left (looking downwind) but slightly overcooked the lay line which enabled Chris and Rachel to take a shortcut, soaking over them to take second from Roo with Jamie Calder in third which raised them to third overall.

As the West wind died completely we chased East towards Bass Rock, looking for the new Eastly breeze which did not quite materialise. AP over A and we had a long sail home against the current. As it happens the West wind filled back in nicely and we were hiking again by the time we hit the beach, just in time to enjoy some local Stewart Brewing beers and impromptu music.

Results after Day 4: