With great sunbaking weather this morning it looked like a day of rest, but the wind gods would not have any of that. At 4pm the predicted Southerly change came through Sydney and turned Botany bay into another racing playground.

Race 6 got underway in a steady 12-20 knots. McGain on this 10.5 got a flying start near the boat, with Allen using his trusty 10.6 close behind and Vesterstrom powered a little further down the line on this 11m. Allen tacked off after getting in McGain’s bad wind and turned out to critical as McGain rounded the weather mark well ahead of Vesterstrom with Allen in third in hot pursuit. McGain sailed a solid race to finish well ahead of Allen who eventually picked off Vesterstrom on the downwind.

Race 7. This time Allen got himself in a better position to stay on the favoured side of the course, which he did, but McGain still rounded the first mark ahead and Allen close behind in second and Jesper in third. McGain hang on downwind to lead around the bottom mark and then up to the top mark again. Allen stayed close enough to put his downwind speed into play and passed McGain just before the bottom mark to reach comfortably on the short reach to the finish. Vesterstrom rounded out the top 3.

Race 8. McGain got away clean at the pin end while Vesterstrom who now changed down to his 9.8 and Allen were spread back along the line. Vesterstrom now was finding his fifth gear and was able to lead around the top mark after McGain tacked early to cover Allen and found a nice wind hole just before the weather mark. Allen rounded third behind Jesper Orth and Jesper Vesterstrom with McGain eventually getting around in 4th place.

At the bottom mark Allen had a short lead as McGain caught both Jespers to round second with Vesterstrom close on McGain tail in third. The top 3 competitors battled it out to the upwind mark, this time McGain made another mistake after passing Allen and Vesterstrom on the upwind, had to double tack the top mark. This opened the door for Vesterstrom and Allen to pass ahead of McGain and head back down for the finish. Allen won the race with McGain pulling out all stops to pass Vesterstrom on the downwind.

Allen and McGain now have the same points, with Allen leading after the tie breaker. Last critical day tomorrow to see who will win the Australian title.

Places after 8 races.

1. Allen

2. McGain

3. Vesterstrom

4. Orth.