Day three of Antigua sailing Week saw lighter winds - 18 knots dropping to 14 as division A completed their last downwind leg - but another beautiful day of Caribbean sailing as the fleet headed back to the south coast of Antigua and Nelson's Dockyard and Falmouth Harbour.
After the start gun, division A had a fetch to buoys off the north-east coast of Antigua, followed by a reaching leg back out to sea, a beat down the west coast and Cades Reef, a dogleg into Curtain Bluff followed by a beat out to a mark called Shirley off the south-east of Antigua and Shirley Heights with a downwind leg to the finish off English Harbour.
Division B followed a very similar course without the dogleg and final beat out to Shirley.
As the fleet headed south it was met by shifty and gusty conditions as the offshore wind funnelled down valleys and round hills with 30-degree oscillations. The only thing to be done was be prepared for the radical shifts and adapt where possible.
Many a boat carrying a spinnaker lost control but no knockdown broaches were witnessed. Kites went up, kites came down and numerous boats including Equation and Favonious didn't attempt to fly their kites - and may have paid the price.
GBR Challenge sailor Jonathan Boyce, trimming onboard Tazani the Swan 59 bulleted racer/cruiser II, helped pull in another podium position.
A tough battle is ensuing between the closely-rated likes of Jacana from Cowes, Just Do It 2, Celerity and Disco Inferno II. Jacana topped this pack followed by Celerity and Disco but skipper Matt Abbiss and crew are pleased with their results so far.
Eddy Warden-Owen from Locks Heath is helming Tazani for the regatta and has been steering the boat clear of its rivals since day two of racing. Two more races are to take place on the boisterous Caribbean waters.
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