Football: Yamaha feels the squeeze

(First Edition)

THE Doldrums were causing more than their usual share of nervous tension yesterday in the Whitbread Round The World Race as Yamaha stretched its lead to 30 miles in the Whitbread 60 class and the maxis began to close in, writes Stuart Alexander.

Brad Butterworth, despite discovering delamination in Winston, went from fifth to draw level with the second-placed Lawrie Smith, in Intrum Justitia.

Pierre Fehlmann, in the maxi Merit Cup, was also moving well, splitting the leading W60s. Britain's Dolphin & Youth is underway again after repairs.

WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE Fifth leg (Punta del Este to Fort Lauderdale) Positions, with miles to the finish: Maxis: 1 Merit Cup, 3,300; 2 New Zealand Endeavour, 3,338; 3 La Poste, 3,348; 4 Uruguay Natural, 3,650. Whitbread 60s: 1 Yamaha, 3,290; 2= Intrum Justitia, Winston 3,323; 4 Galicia '93 Pescanova, 3,324; 5 Brooksfield, 3,336; 6 Heineken, 3,369; 7 Hetman Sahaidachny, 3,413; 8 Odessa, 3,585; 9 Dolphin & Youth, 4,356; 10 Tokio, 4,416. BT Results Service.