Where is the sun?!?!?!
At least the rain stopped after breakfast....
Conscious of the long day everyone had had yesterday the Race Management team had come up provisions to shorten some of the set courses and at 07:30 made the call to send everyone round the shortest course - a 17 nm figure of 8 course around Cagala, Leleuvia and Nasautabu Island Reefs.
The early morning easterly winds swung to the SE and built to 12 knots for the running start from Aristo-Cat our committee anchored just off the resort. Flat sheltered seas for the fleet until around Cagala Island then a 4.5 nm beat in winds of up to 15 knots across to Daveta ni Kalavo (Rat Passage).
Worral lead Engwirda through this pass and out into the open Pacific Ocean for the first time. David Lovell and Nick King were in third place just ahead of Grahame Southwick - however true to his nickname, of the 'Fish', Southwick and his crew lost their balance in the waves within the entrance to the pass falling from the trapeze and capsizing in the process.
A 2.5 nm beam then broad reach in the ocean swells just outside the reef to a gybe mark on the northern end then a screaming twin wire tight port reach of 4.5 nm back inside the protected waters inside the reef again. 3 marks had been laid on the southern and western extremities of Leleuvia Reef which was a run then a final short reach into the finish.
Worral and Wilson completed the course in 1:47:18 - an average speed of 9.5 knots for the complete course. Second and third also stayed the same with Engwirda and Lovell respectively.
Meanwhile Geoff and Rose Rowdell placed 4th just ahead of the daughter and father partnership of Nicole and Kerli Corlette who with that were elevated to second place overall just 26 seconds ahead of New Zealanders Matt Shepherd and Altaire Mandell.
The leading Fijian crew are Kaveni and Mika who are only 52 seconds behind 4th placed Bob Engwirda and Slater.
One more Leleuvia race tomorrow before Fridays 35nm passage back home to Suva. With a 40 minute lead, after 3 bullets, Worral and Wilson and looking comfortable but with only 12 minutes and 3 seconds separating second from sixth place the second place overall is wide open.
Let's hope for some sun tomorrow!!! (and wind too of course....)
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