Sailing: Optimism for Smith

LAWRIE SMITH and Ian Southworth's hopes of places in the semi-finals of the Wightlink Lymington Cup were slightly brighter yesterday than the murky conditions on the second day of Britain's premier match-racing event, writes Stuart Alexander.

Smith improved his win rate against the remaining eight competitors as the first round robin was completed and the second progressed to the half-way point.

Lying seventh, he did not seem particularly aggressive. Perhaps thoughts of work on his Olympic boat and the weekend Ultra 30 regatta in Liverpool overshadowed any hunger for points in the Omega World Match-Racing Conference.

Southworth, who beat him for the second time, is fourth equal with Gregg Flynn, of New Zealand.

The front runners, with 11 wins each, are Roy Heiner, of the Netherlands, and Peter Holmberg, of the US Virgin Islands. Pedro Campos, of Spain, is third with nine.

With three final flights of the first round robin and five of the second completed over the 2-mile windward-leeward course, there are just four left today plus some of the best-of-three semi-finals before tomorrow's finals.

In the French championship at St Tropez only two more rounds were completed. Australia's Gordon Lucas retained the lead with six wins, followed by Britain's Harry Cudmore and New Zealand's Chris Dickson equal second with five.

Results, Sport in Short, page 39