Race 8

Race 8 commenced back to back with race 7 to make for a long day on the water. To add to the fun the southerly kicked up to about 15-18 knots. Aussie sailors Hansen/Ellis (AUS362) capsized on the start line at the committee boat end with 30 seconds to go, causing Searle/Bell & Pank/Barber to scramble and tack away to get a clear start. Fells/Cunningham started at the pin end & were lee-bowed by Nelson/Ramus (GBR764). Pank/Barber crossed the fleet after nailing the port layline to round first followed by Searle/Bell & Fells/Cunningham who had worked up the middle. Downwind, Pank/Barber gybed first & took good pressure down to the bottom mark to have a lead of 150m. Searle/Bell & Fells/Cunningham rounded opposite sides of the bottom gate and Fells worked the shifts up the middle to not only pass Pank Barber, but carve out a 2 minute lead by the top mark. Fells later described this work as "the perfect beat". Downwind again, Pank & Searle headed for the left side & Searle/Bell gybed inside to lead into the gate. Up the 3rd work Searle had closed on Fells to be within spitting distance & Pank/Barber headed into shore & lost out slightly. Hansen/Ellis & the Plain brothers (AUS313) had meanwhile closed the gap on the leaders after being well back. Most of the leaders went to the right downwind the last time & overlaid slightly when a squall came through. The Bancrofts, who were holding down 4th position, went left & looked threatening for a while, but Hansen/Ellis benefited from nailing the layline on port. Hansen/Ellis rounded on Pank/Barber's lee-bow & a very close battle ensued up the final short work.

Final places for race 8 were;

1. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758) 2. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725) 3. Priority Powder Coating, Hansen/Ellis (AUS 362) 4. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357) 5. Masters Apprentices, Plain/Plain (AUS313) 6. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)