Krantz sprints clear

All the fun of the fair - excitement, thrills and a few spills, but above all cracking racing from some of the best in the world - has marked the opening of the Ancasta Mumm 36 World Championship.

As the 23 yachts from 14 countries streamed out of the Solent it was Gunnar Krantz of Sweden who was first round the West Princessa Buoy. He was also leading overall after the three sprints on Saturday, thanks to being awarded compensation points for being baulked by one of the jury boats in the third race.

It was not quite so windy yesterday and the water was flatter as America's Jim Brady, in No Problem, led a bunch to the right-hand side of the track to the first buoy near Cowes. With the tide sweeping him down, he judged the line in perfectly, with Thomas Friese's I Punkt, helmed by Glen Bourke, second. Those choosing the left had to fight more tide, including Tim Barrett's Bradamante, back on the course after being dismasted the day before.

Krantz, in Skandia, was eighth at that point, but he again produced some of the blistering downwind speed that had helped him to victory in the second of Saturday's races, held in more than 25 knots of south-westerly and an increasingly rough chop. Even the likes of the ever-laconic Brad Butterworth, on the star-studded Belgian boat Kateie, said: "It was quite a handful."

Well up, too, was Eddie Warden Owen, second overall, skippering Mumm a Mia! and leading the fashion for using an asymmetrical gennaker instead of a symmetrical spinnaker.

ANACASTA MUMM 36 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Hamble): Standings after three races: 1 G Krantz (Skandia) 13.75pts; 2 E Warden Owen (Mumm a Mia!) 16; 3 T Friese (I Punkt) 18.75; 4 L Dewulf (Kateie) 19; 5 J Brady (No Problem) 20; 6 D Barnes (Georgia Express) 21.75.