Brit boats shine

On the third day of the French Melges 24 Nationals

The third day of the French Melges 24 Nationals in Larmor Beach, Lorient produced four more races bringing the total sailed to 10 with 9 to count. The day was dubious until 1330 with the first race run in winds of just force two, but then three beautiful races followed and the wind established itself at force four from 270 degrees. A victory for Englishman Tim Colling on Easy Tiger, another for Stuart Rix on Gill, the third for Hyerios Christophe Barrue on Euro Voiles and the fourth for Rochelaise Jean Francois Cruette's Scutum.

Overall Gill and D'Aucy confirmed their claim on the podium and reduced their points difference to just one very small point. Tomorrow promises a fabulous match race for the title.

The atypical local weather conditions of race one made it rich in surprises, with in particular a last place of overall leader Gill. After a good start the Easy Tiger carried the first race in front of the brothers Calves from Perros-Guirec on Boch' Anig, followed by Overone, Diazo Copy and Liros Nantes Saint-Nazaire.

With the stronger wind in for the remainder of the day race two brought revenge for Gill who headed the fleet in front of Scutum followed by Euro Voiles, Boch' Anig and D'Aucy. The third race saw Chris Sayer on Mad Cow sent home by the black flag and it is Euro Voiles who win to consolidate their overall third place. Second was Easy Tiger followed by Guy Hoquet Immobilier, D'Aucy and English team The Dogs. The fourth race brought victory for Scutum, Gill second, D'Aucy third then Giy Hoquet and Euro Voiles.

Two races remain to run tomorrow and all the attention will be on Gill and D'Aucy, but also on Euro Voiles which will defend the third place against Scutum.

Nigel Young on Gill gave his viewpoint: "The day was a little difficult for us, since we finished last in the first sleeve after choosing the wrong side and by compounding the errors. Then we restored our confidence by winning the second race. In the third, we started too early and had to go back, we were almost last and pulled back up to eleventh place, not badly altogether. The fourth race was better. We are glad here and enjoying great racing, but... the weather is not a little cold???"

Results:

Pos	Boat	Skipper	Sail no	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Tot	Net
1	GILL	STUART RIX	GBR 431	1	1	2	2	2	1	9	7
2	D'AUCY	JOURDREN BRUNO	FRA 472	2	2	1	3	1	3	12	9
3	EURO VOILES	INFANTE DENIS	FRA 461	5	4	11	5	3	5	33	22
4	SCUTUM	DE KERVENOAEL CEDRIC/ CRUETTE J-F	FRA 321	4	3	10	9	5	2	33	23
5	COTES D'ARMOR SAIL DE MER	ROUXEL THOMAS	FRA 470	10	5	5	1	6	BFD	48	27
6	GUY HOQUET IMMOBILIER	TREUSSART RONAN	FRA 193	3	7	7	4	10	8	39	29
7	REGION ILE DE FRANCE	EUDE THIERRY / PAHUN JIMMY	FRA 386	7	8	4	12	7	4	42	30
8	LIROS NANTES SAINT NAZAIRE	ARNAUD REMY	FRA 422	6	6	9	6	8	7	42	33
9	EASY TIGER	COLLINS TIMOTHY	GBR 334	11	11	3	8	15	13	61	46
10	J GAULO	DOUCHY JEAN PAUL	FRA 252	13	10	17	11	4	9	64	47
11	BOCH'ANIG	LE CALVEZ JEAN MARIE	FRA 392	8	9	6	13	14	11	61	47
12	THE DOGS	BROWN ALLEN	GBR 368	9	13	8	15	11	10	66	51
13	DIAZO COPY	BASSARD DIDIER	FRA 322	14	14	12	10	9	BFD	80	59
14	GROUPE COUPECHOUX	SPARFEL JEAN MARC	FRA 383	12	12	14	19	16	6	79	60
15	OVERONE	LABOISSE ROMAIN	FRA 211	17	16	19	7	12	14	85	66
16	SNL PLASTIMO	LEGLATIN TANGUY	FRA 317	15	15	13	14	19	BFD	97	76
17	MAD COW	MATHERON GASPARD	FRA 22	DNF	DNC	15	18	13	12	100	79
18	GYBE SET	GELLEZ OLIVIER	FRA 473	16	17	16	16	20	17	102	82
19	WILD THING	FRANKS DAVID	GBR 435	DNF	18	20	17	17	16	109	88
20	THE BEES	MYATT DAVID	GBR 536	DNF	DNC	18	20	18	15	113	92