UK Boats Feature Strongly in Fickle Breeze

Nick CRAIG of Frensham Pond SC maintains a close lead over Jeff DYER of Penarth YC after Race Five of the 2004 Enterprise World Championships.

Race Five, sponsored by North Sails, proved again that a good start was essential to have any hope of staying in the top ten by the finish, largely due to a significant pin end bias and a light breeze from the north east. Irish sailor Sean CRAIG set the pace and maintained the lead until the last leg of the race when Phil KIRK from Frampton-on-Severn SC and Nick CRAIG both took advantage of large windshifts. Phil KIRK eventually won the race in super style and surely is delighted to move substantially up the overall rankings to 19 overall.

Overall after race five and with three scheduled races to sail, Nick CRAIG maintains a slender lead over Jeff DYER who finished fourth in yesterdays race. It would appear to be a two horse battle for the overall title with an 18 point gap to third placed Sean CRAIG of the Royal St George Yacht Club. However, stronger breezes are forecasted for the remainder of the weeks racing and anything can happen. The tighter battle is for third overall with only nine points separating third to sixth overall at present.

After Sean CRAIG, next best placed Irish sailors are Roy Van MAANEN in eighth overall and Ger DEMPSEY in tenth overall and with both of these sailors still within easy reach of the top six placings.

Top Ten After Four Races