Things started slowly on the third morning of US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR when all but one class was postponed ashore due to light wind that followed morning showers. But the entire fleet were back in action on Biscayne Bay by the afternoon.
After two days of maintaining a lead in the 41-boat men's 470 class,
Nic Asher and
Elliot Willis (GBR) were edged out on the third day by fellow national teammates
Luke Patience and
Stuart Bithell for the top spot on the leader board. Patience and Bithell won the days single race while compatriots Asher and Willis took sixth, using it as a discard race. They are now three points behind the new leaders.
"It was a tricky day," said Asher, who with Willis has won the men's 470 Worlds twice.
"The wind was off the land so it was shifty and gusty, lots of places changed, but our sixth was solid. Tomorrow it's all to play for."
Patience said his team's victory came after a disappointing start,
"We didn't pop out in front until about two-thirds up the second windward leg; that's pretty late in the race, but as it developed, the lanes opened up.
"There was not much pattern to the wind, which went from 10 knots up to 15 knots, so it was an active kind of sailing - a lot of dividing out time between looking around and driving."
Leaders from day two in the 24-boat women's 470 class, Ingrid Petitjean and Nadège Douroux (FRA) had a disappointing race, finishing in 12th. But they still hang on to a one point lead over Penny Clark and Katrina Hughes (GBR) who won yesterday's race to move into second.
The 470s are in for a long day on Thursday, as it is anticipated they will sail three races to catch up with their schedule of two races per day before the final Medal Races conclude the regatta on Sunday.
With two races yesterday in the 56-boat Star class, Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA) still shine. They finished 9-7, while Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen (SWE) posted a 15-5. Only two points separate them from the leaders and the third place finishers Xavier Rohart and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot (FRA).
John Pink and Richard Peacock (GBR) continue to lead the 49ers and finished with a 4-6-1 and used the sixth as a permitted discard in their final score, which is 18 points to the 19 carried by David Evans and Edward Powys (GBR).
"It's going well - we've had some great races really and a mixed bag with conditions," said Pink. "[Tuesday] was very boat speed orientated and we managed to crack that quite well.
"Today was a lot more shifty so it was more about minimizing risk. The results could have been a lot worse, so we battled through and we've been enjoying it." Pink and Peacock won a silver medal at the 2009 Rolex Miami OCR so they will be looking to add to the collection.
"You get a little confidence boost," said Pink about being lucky enough to do well among so many of the world's leading sailors, "and aside from that it's just a nice place to be with good weather and good training conditions."
In the other events in Miami:
Finn: Giles Scott slipped up with an OCS to hand the victory in Race 5 to Brendan Casey (AUS). Scott remains in first place after discarding the race and Casey moves up into second.
Laser: Rasmus Myrgren (SWE) finished with a 1-3 to lead Paul Thompson (GBR), Nick Thompson (GBR) and Clay Johnson (USA), all on 13 points, by four points.
Laser Radial: Evi Van acker (BEL) slipped to second overall after finishing seventh in Race 5 and discarding 16th in Race 6. With a 4-1 Marit Bouwmeester (NED) jumped into first.
Men's RS:X: Three points separate Dorian Van rijsselberge (NED) and Nick Dempsey (GBR).
Women's RS:X: Marina Alabau (ESP) continues to dominate in the women's RS:X after she finished with double bullets for the third day running.
Elliot 6m (Women's match racing): There is a four way tie in the Gold Round Robin with team's from Great Britain, USA, France and Russia all tied with two wins and one loss.
In the three Paralympic classes:
2.4mR: With double bullets Damien Seguin (FRA) has overtaken Thierry Schmitter (NED) who finished with 4-4
SKUD-18: Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) have a one point lead over Jennifer French and Jean-Paul Creignou (USA).
Sonar: Another solid day from john Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas (GBR) sees them lead by four points
To watch video highlights of the third day in Miami visit our Youtube channel.
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