Series leader Neville Wittey has lodged a protest after his assault on the International Etchells Australian sailing championships struck a snag at Sydney.

Wittey's Yandoo XX was among four boats declared "premature starters" in race five of the championship on Sydney Harbour.

Despite taking race five line honours, Wittey's Yandoo XX was deemed to have broken the start long with Julian Plante's Odyssey, John Bertrand's Two Saints And A Magpie and Steve Gunther's 1288.

That meant the four high profile boats were slapped with a dreaded "did not finish" despite completing top five finishes in race five.

Wittey, who had a commanding lead in the championship going into the race, then lodged a protest against the race committee's decision which is being heard at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron on Wednesday.

Plante and Gunther have also lodged protests.

Race five's provisional winner was Mark Bulka, the defending Australian champion, in Balanced A-Tack from Victoria's Mornington Yacht Club, after technically finishing second behind Yandoo XX .

Second on provisional results was reigning world champion Peter McNeill in Tom Pepper XVIII.

The final two races in the Australian championship for the popular one-design keelboat class will be held on Thursday.

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