Light winds greeted the Fireball sailors on day three of the class national championship at Exmouth today (14 August). Vince Horey has taken over as leader with Howarth, Smith and Morrison chasing for the top spot. In race four It was decided that gate starts would be used and the fleet got away first time. Pathfinder Andy Smith carried on the port tack all the way to the lay line where he rounded the windward mark first, followed by Australian Ben Schulz with Steve Goacher in third.

As the wind dropped Smith sailed away to win, Vince Horey had been making progress through the fleet all race, closely followed by Steve Morrison. At the finish it was the Australians who finished second just in front of Horey with Goacher fourth and Morrison fifth.

Results

1st Andy Smith and James Meldrum

2nd Ben Schulz and Colin Park

3rd Vince Horey and Jon Mildred

4th Steve Goacher and Tim Egland

5th Steve Morrison and Simon Hughes

6th Tom Fenn and Chris Read