Competitors at the 18ft Skiff European championship at Quiberon enjoyed an action-packed day on the water yesterday with the winds reaching 20 knots.

The majority of the fleet got away well at the start of heat 7, but John Winning, Jack Young and Euan McNicol on ‘Yandoo-d’Albora Marinas’ had to chase after the fleet with a broken tiller extension, and appeared to be well out of the running.

Once again, the series leader ‘RMW Marine’ sailed by Rob Greenhalgh, Dan Johnson and Jonny Meers rounded the windward mark in first position and streaked away downwind under perfect control in the boisterous conditions. Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin and Chris Cleary on ‘General Electric-US Challenge’ held an apparently comfortable second place ahead of Tony Hannan, Cameron Macdonald and Greg Windust on ‘Total Recall’ until the American team had a problem passing through the gate, allowing the Australians to leap frog them into second place.

Meanwhile, ‘RMW Marine’ strode on at the head of affairs until they too had difficulties making their way through the gate in the final lap and capsized, hitting the gate boat in the process. This gave ‘Total Recall’ the opportunity to take the lead and win the heat from ‘General Electric-US Challenge’.

Victor Brellisford, James Grant and Dave Smith on ‘White Stuff’ were sailing an excellent race, coping well with the conditions, and finished in third place.

‘Yandoo-d’Albora Marinas’ caught up surprisingly well considering their handicap, and just failed to catch the strong Danish team of Flemming Clausen, Thomas Ebler and Soren Clausen on ‘Wempe’, who held on to finish fourth.

‘RMW Marine’ recovered to finish in sixth place. Only 10 boats completed the course.

The President of the Race Committee then decided that it would be prudent to postpone Heat 8, and racing was over for the day.

‘RMW Marine’ still leads the overall standings, but with a reduced margin from ‘General Electric-US Challenge’ which now lies in second place ahead of ‘Yandoo-d’Albora Marinas’.

Results (Heat 7)

1. ‘Total Recall’ Tony Hannon, Cameron Macdonald and Greg Windust, AUS

2. ‘General Electric-US Challenge’ Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin and Chris Cleary, USA

3. ‘White Stuff’ Victor Brellisford, James Grant and Dave Smith, GBR

4. ‘Wempe’ Flemming Clausen, Thomas Ebler and Soren Clausen, DEN

5. ‘Yandoo-d’Albora Marinas’ John Winning, Jack Young and Euan McNicol, AUS

6. ‘RMW Marine’ Rob Greenhalgh, Dan Johnson and Jonny Meers, GBR

Overall standings (after 7 Heats, with one discard)

1. ‘RMW Marine’ 14.7 points

2. ‘General Electric-US Challenge’ 28 points

3. ‘Yandoo-d’Albora Marinas’ 30.4 points

4. ‘Total Recall’ 37.1 points

5. ‘Radii’ Andy Richards, Steve Mitchell and Dave Richards, GBR, 59.4 points

6. ‘Wempe’ 67 points