A win for British sailor Richard Estaugh in the final race Fireball Pre-World regatta in Tampa Bay, Florida, gave him an overall win of the event.

The final race of this three day regatta yesterday started after some delay while the fleet waited for the wind to come in.

The start got away first time and at the first mark the Japanese boat of Hiroshi Kato was in the lead with Richard Estaugh hot on his heels. Kato held his lead for the first lap but was overtaken on the next beat as the wind shifted right and Estaugh took full advantage. Philip Popple and Tim Rush also went hard right and made huge gains, ending up second and third respectively. On the final run and reach of the trapezoid course, little changed at the front of the fleet and Estaugh took first place followed by Popple and Rush.

Estaugh’s win gives him the overall win in the regatta, narrowly beating Tim Rush and Dave Wade who were second and third respectively. Racing was tight all week with only 15 points (using bonus point scoring) separating the top eight boats. This should make for an interesting world championship next week, as any of those could be in the running to take the title.