A one-hour postponement saw the wind build from 0 to 20 knots and more. With the wind came the sea – short, sharp and steep, and the spectacle was spectacular.

Whilst it was not all plain sailing, yessterday was one of those days off Porto Cervo that sailors live for. Come results time: honours were even in the Mini Maxis with Numbers and Rosebud/Team both posting a first and second in their two races; J One collected a first bullet of the week in the Wally Division; the J-Class Ranger maintained her perfect record in Cruising; and Racing went to the super-maxi Alfa Romeo.

Yesterday was the allotted day for the Mini Maxis to sail two windward/leeward races – one 8.8nm and the other 10.8nm. Meanwhile, Cruising, Racing and Wally Divisions took on a 24nm coastal race that included a short leg to windward, a run downwind to the rocks at Monaci, a fetch down to Secca Tre Monti, before a long beat to Mortoriotto and a run back to the finish off Porto Cervo.

Neville Crichton’s 30-metre Alfa Romeo (NZL), blitzed the 24 miles in little over two hours. George David’s Rambler (USA) clung on to her coat tails, but could do nothing against the power Crichton has at his fingertips finishing 14 minutes behind on elapsed time and 4 minutes down on handicap.

In the Wally Division, the day belonged to Jean-Charles Decaux’s J One (FRA). She may be one of the smallest in the form, but J One has shown previously she is not prepared to be bullied by her bigger classmates.

The Mini Maxi Division took their medicine. It was a nasty day for windward/ leewards, especially after the two previous, relatively gentle days.

In the Cruising Division the two J Class yachts renewed their private battle with a little too much vigour. A collision on the start saw Velsheda take a penalty turn, which meant their race was virtually over before it began. Worse was to befall this proud J, a standard bearer for yachts of a by-gone era, as she approached the turn at Mortoriotto and a series of mishaps led to her eventual retirement. Ranger, meanwhile, did not allow her dented bow to dent her performance. With more water over her deck than some of the submerged rocks Ranger kept up their picture perfect performance to come home third on the water, and win by some 15-minutes on handicap from Charles Dunstones’ Hamilton II.

Current Provisional Standings:
(Place, Boat Name, Owner, Nation, R1-R2-Points)

Racing
1. Alfa Romeo Neville Crichton NZL, 1-2-1-4.0

2. Rambler George David USA, 2-1-2-5.0

Cruising
1. Ranger, Rsv Ltd USA, 1-1-1-3.0

2. Hetairos, Rockport Limited GER, 4-4-4-12.0

3. Bristolian, Edwin Van Der Strat NED, 5-3-7-15.0

Mini Maxi
1. Numbers, Meyers/Bertarelli USA, 1-1-2-1-5.0

2. Rosebud/Team Dyt, Roger Sturgeon USA, 3-3-1-2-9.0

3. Moneypenny, Jim Swartz USA, 2-5-3-3-13.0

Wally
1. J One, Jean-Charles Decaux FRA, 4-2-1-7.0

2. Magic Carpet 2, Lindsay Owen-Jones GBR, 1-4-4-9.0

3. Open Season, Thomas Bscher GER, 6-1-2-9.0