Merricks and Walker build up their lead

Sailing

The blustery wind which has been barrelling down the north-south isobar centred over Weymouth again turned the Brut Olympic Trials into a stop- start affair yesterday, disrupting momentum and concentration. At least it was lighter by late afternoon.

In some of the classes at the half-way stage the expected pecking order is emerging, the world No1s John Merricks and Ian Walker extending their lead in the double-handed 470 dinghy. Bethan Raggatt and Sue Carr hold a quarter-point advantage against Severine Rees-Jones and Inga Leaske in the women's division. Shirley Robertson has nearly made sure her of second Olympic appearance in the Europe, and Richard Stenhouse has built up a cushion in the Finn.

Starting to feel more comfortable in the Tornado catamaran are the sitting tenants, David Williams and Ian Rhodes, though either Jonathan Pierce and Ian Park, the Scot who is the Welsh coach, or the two Williams, Sunnucks and Crossley, could still evict them.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 23