The third day of the West Marine J/70 World Championships found 15 teams falling foul of the Black Flag during the three races held. Flatter seas and a shifting nor-easterly provided yet another different day for the 91 teams. With eight of the maximum 14 races having now been sailed, the challengers for the Championship are now emerging. It was a day of highs and lows for defending champion Peter Duncan (USA) racing Relative Obscurity. The defending J/70 World Champion did the business in Race 6, scoring their first bullet of the regatta but was disqualified in Race 7 for being OCS with the Black Flag flying. In Race 8, Duncan’s team scored a fourth to finish the day at the top of the rankings, on countback from Jud Smith (USA). “For the Black Flag, it was close but we were highly visible as the first boat on the pin,” commented Victor Diaz de Leon, who is calling the starts on Relative Obscurity. “It was immature on my part, and maybe a lack of experience. I feel like I let my guys down, because I say when to pull the trigger. Peter and the team back me 100%, but it was a low point. We had to watch for over an hour before we got into the next race, and we were hungry. In the last race, we had a mediocre start and battled back, and ended up having a great race. We are very happy that we are leading the regatta, but we have the biggest drop of the top boats. As I see it, the top six are all level, and whoever sails the best for now on is going to be the winner.” Jose Maria Torcida (ESP) was leading the regatta at the start of the day, but a 7-43-31 dropped the Spanish team to third. Bruno Pasquinelli (USA), racing Stampede, is in fourth place just four points off the lead. Jack Franco, racing 3 Ball JT, scored a bullet today to move up to fifth. Brian Keane (USA), racing Savasana, fell to sixth after a 18-17-26. Congratulations should also go to Gannon Troutman (USA), racing Pied Piper, who won the last race of the day. In the Corinthian Class, Luis Bugallo (ESP), Marnatura, has extended their lead with two solid results Thursday. The young team from Vigo, Spain have now broken into the top ten for entire fleet. Finishing the day in style, Aldo Centanaro (URU), racing Pura Joda, scored a fifth, keeping the Uruguay team firmly in second place. Jim Cunningham (USA), racing Lifted, had a consistent day, keeping out of trouble to move up to third. For live updates from the race course go to: https://www.facebook.com/j70worlds. For daily news, pictures and videos: www.j70worlds2018.com.