Despite newspaper reports to the contrary, Port Melbourne Yacht Club, hosts of the event, report there was little damage done to competitors boats yesterday – mostly pride was damaged as a number of capsizes ensued; which is par for the course when you go sailing in a bit of wind!

However, Tim SHUWALOW/Cameron HOOPER (AUS) continue their lead of the series with 2-6-2 placings. Shuwalow is from Sydney, but Hooper was born and bred in Victoria and knows the Bay well.

Rob BRANCH/Barney HOAK (AUS) have taken over second place, with two wins and a fifth place, putting them only eight points behind the leaders and four ahead of third placed Sebastien EYSSSARTIER/Maxime CARDERELLY (FRA).

The latter pair has jumped from fifth place finishing 4-3-3, with Darren SMITH/Natalie HILL (AUS), who have fallen from second place, suffering their worst results of the regatta today.

Hobie 18 world champions, Brad SUMNER/Belinda WALKOM (AUS), fell one place to fifth and Darren BUNDOCK/Alex GOLTZ have moved up yet one more place into sixth, their best result a third in Race 6.

The Hobie 16’s finish their championships tomorrow and weather experts are predicting 15-20 knot winds and sunshine.

Provisional top five results after eight races

Pos	Name	Crew	Nation	Pts
1	T Shuwalow	C Hooper	AUS	20
2	R Branch	B Houk	AUS	28
3	S Eyssartier	M Cardarelly	FRA	32
4	D Smith	N Hill	AUS	35
5	B Sumer	B Walkom	AUA	40