| CADIZ, SPAIN-(30-9-203) Racing was brought forward by 1 hour on the third day to try and fit in two races before forecast thunderstorms materialised at the end of the afternoon, caused by a large Atlantic depression passing along the coast of northern Spain. The depression brought mixed blessings to the fleet. Although the winds were stronger at around 15 knots, there was also low cloud and rain squalls in the warm front sector of the depression which later turned into torrential rain.
The passing rain squalls were a race officer's nightmare as they continually pulled the wind left and right from the gradient wind direction, causing a start in the Apprentice fleet to be abandoned and a number of significant place changes. On both courses the Race Committee resorted to using the black flag in an attempt to start fleets in the shifting winds. This policy had the most dramatic effect in the second race of the Apprentices when 16 boats were disqualified for an early start including series leader Mark Littlejohn GBR and 6 others from the top ten overall. Winner of the first race, Brett Beyer AUS, was the only sailor that was black flagged and held their overnight position (4th). Littlejohn has dropped to second position overall after finishing second to Beyer, whilst Jyrki Taiminen FIN drops to third overall, following a third place and a black flag score.
Stephen Cockerill GBR took advantage of others' misfortune to win the second race of the day and move into the overall lead following a 10th place in the first race.
The Masters results were more mixed but for different reasons. Although the top 3 remain the same, both Anders Sorenson SWE and Chris Raab USA had their worst daily results so far as Nick Harrison GBR and Alexander Nikolaev RUS each took line honours.
It was a similar story in the Grand Masters with Kevin Pearson GBR narrowly holding on to his overall lead after a 13th and a 9th. Keith Wilkins GBR closed the gap on Pearson with an 11th and a second. However the form sailor of the day was Mark Bethwaite AUS who posted two wins to add to his win the previous day and move from 14th to 5th overall.
Peter Seidenberg USA remained consistent in the stronger winds to keep his lead in the Great Grand Masters scoring a 3rd and 2nd place with second overall, Tom Speed NZL, closing reducing the gap to 2 points after a 2nd and 1st.
In the Laser Radial fleet the ladies showed the men the way round the course with Lyndall Patterson AUS, Jan Kemp AUS and Roberta Hartley GBR all showing at the front of the fleet in their two races. In the Radial Apprentice Hartley is tied first on points with Wilmar Groenendiijk NED whilst in the Radial Masters Patterson has moved from 13th to 5th overall, one place ahead of Kemp. Ahead of these, the battle for first overall is close with 3 points separating the new leader, Peter Whipp GBR and previous leader Alister McMichael, who has dropped to third after a 5th and 6th.
In the remaining Radial division Gary McCrohon AUS won both his races to move from 4th overall to second behind Alden Shattuck USA, who scored two second places.
At the half way stage the fleet have a rest day before the final 3 days of racing.
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