The only race in the Bell Mumm 30 World Championship in Canada yesterday almost didn’t happen, and Philippe Kahn almost wished it hadn’t because his own son fouled him. He protested and the standings went inside out going into the fourth and final day Friday. The new leader, replacing 15-year-old Samuel (Shark) Kahn, is Fred Sherratt, a local sailor representing the host Royal Canadian Yacht Club, who finished third.

Nelson Stephenson, the class president sailed TeamBOLD to its first win of the week, two boat lengths in front of Australia’s Richard Perini on Foreign Affair. The younger Kahn, who led by six points after the first two days, flamed out after the incident at the first windward mark when he and his father, sailing Pegasus 20 and Pegasus 591, were fighting for the lead. After doing a double penalty turn he rejoined the parade in seventh, briefly appeared to be making a comeback but went all the wrong ways as the wind died on the last downwind drift and straggled in 18th, beating only two boats.

Principal race officer Mike Milner hoped to sail four races Friday to complete the 11-race schedule. The event rules say none can start after 1700 so Milner moved the day’s starting time up an hour to 1030 this morning.

Ironically, Thursday’s race didn’t start until 1743 after four general recalls following a day of card-playing and lawn bowling before Milner, two miles out on Lake Ontario, decided there was finally enough wind to race – not more than 6 or 7 knots but just enough to race twice around a one-mile windward/leeward course.

Sherratt, sailing Steadfast, has 36 points. Tom Ritter’s Tramp from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., slipped into second place (44), followed by the Shark (45), Philippe Kahn (47) and Perini (49).

The course of the regatta turned as Shark Kahn approached the first windward mark on port tack as his father came in on starboard, slightly behind but with the right of way. Instead of crossing in front or ducking behind, Shark tacked on the other Pegasus’ lee bow and forced his father to luff up to avoid a collision.

Shark’s tactician, Richard Clarke, a veteran Finn and big boat sailor from Toronto, blamed himself for suggesting the fatal move. Commenting he said: “That’s about the stupidest thing I could have done.”

And it put Philippe Kahn on the spot. Neither he nor his son had ever protested the other while racing Melges 24s against each other in recent years.

“So much for people who say we team-race,” Philippe said as darkness descended on the docks. “If it costs him the worlds, it costs him.”

Results (after 7 of 11 races)

1. Steadfast, Fred Sheratt, Toronto, 8-2-4-6-2-11-3, 36 points

2. Tramp, Tom Ritter, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 1-7-7-15-4-5-5, 44

3. Pegasus 20, Samuel Kahn, Honolulu, 3-1-17-3-1-2-18, 45

4. Pegasus 591, Philippe Kahn, Honolulu, 5-3-5-1-5-19-9, 47

5. Foreign Affair, Richard Perini, Sydney, Australia, 2-12-13-2-17-1-2, 49

6. Team Intermac, Dan Cheresh, Holland, Mich., 6-10-9-10-7-6-6, 54

7. TeamBOLD, Nelson Stephenson, Southport, Conn., 15-11-14-9-3-4-1, 57

8. ,Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas, Santa Barbara, Calif., 4-18-2-14-6-14-4, 62

9. Calvi, Carlo Alberini, Pesaro, Italy, 16-5-11-7-13-7-10, 69

10. Cygnet, Richard Swann, Fairfield, Conn., 13-8-1-12-10-8-19, 71

11. USA 65, David Pyles, Easton, Md., 7-16-6-18-8-10-7, 72

12. Team Traffic, Philip Werheim, USA, 14-13-21-4-9-3-132, 77

13. Notorious, Kevin Brown, Toronto, 9-9-12-8-16-16-8, 78

14. Three Niner, David Gonzalez, Lambertville, Mich., 12-15-10-5-11-13-15, 81

15. it, Jim Sminchak, Euclid, Ohio, 11-4-16-16-18-15-16, 96

16. Dark’n Stormy, Kevin Young, Novelty, Ohio, 10-14-19-11-12-17-17, 100

17. Surprise, David Irish, Harbour Springs, Mich., 18-17-15-13-15-12-11, 101

18. Champosa, Jonathan McDonagh, Minneapolis, Minn., 20-6-3-19-19-20-20, 107

19. War Pony, Art Guerrera, Atlantic Highlands, N.J., 19-10-8-20-20-9-12, 108

20. Hammer, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., 17-19-18-17-14-18-DSQ, 125

21. Wildthing, Jeff Fogarty, Fonthill, Ontario, 21-21-20-21-21-21-14, 139