ANTHONY Giacomini holds the upper hand going into the final day of competition at the EFSA European Boat Championships in Weymouth.

The former European junior champion from Italy will be bidding to add the senior title to his collection when the boat event comes to a climax on Thursday.

Giacomini, 20, knocked Ireland’s Heiko Dreier off top spot today – Dreier is now fourth behind English duo Colin Searles, who is second, and Ash Currier in third.

England A are 30 points ahead of England B in the international team event, while Germany’s Katharina Schlief is 80 points clear in the race for the ladies’ crown.

Meanwhile, there are just nine points separating first and third places in the open two-man team category.

Ray Barron and Neil Bryant, who led for the first two days, have slipped to third.

Fellow English duo Matt Osbourne and Rob Shattock are now out in front, with the Italian pairing of Giacomini and Mauro Salvatori close behind in second.

The third day of competition in Weymouth was made tougher due to strong south-easterly winds which reached force six.