Gosling rivals American for world title

Sailing

An Anglo-American showdown for the Etchells 22 World Championship is in prospect for the last race in the Solent today, writes Stuart Alexander.

Squaring up at the Squadron Corral are Britain's Nigel Gosling, whose third consecutive second place yesterday put him into the overall lead, and the American Jud Smith. Smith, a runner-up at Newport Beach in 1994 who had led the series until yesterday's fifth race, came back from 21st at the first turning mark to finish seventh and is four points adrift. They are clear of the Australian Peter Conde in third place.

Both Loick Peyron, the defending champion, and his close rival, Paul Vatine, were expected to finish the Europe 1 Singlehanded Transatlantic Race from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island, inside the record time last night.

Italy's Giovanni Soldini leads the monohulls, with the Frenchman Gerry Roufs second and Britain's Pete Goss third.