SAILING

SAILING

An early threat to Lawrie Smith's dominance of the Ultra 30 class came yesterday as the Vauxhall Grand Prix began its 1995 series at Portsmouth. Mike McIntyre, the Olympic gold medallist, made his debut with a win in the first race ahead of Eddie Warden Owen as Smith had to fight his way back from last to third. The second race was fought out by Smith and his rival of 1994, Russell Peters, with Peters beating Smith over the line. McIntyre starts today's two races with 10 points, while Smith and Peters share second place with nine. Fourth is Warden Owen, still in touch with eight, while Roger Yeoman and Ian Budgen bring up the rear with three apiece.

CITROEN DART 18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (Weymouth): Final race: 1 R Garcka and S Garcka (Worthing Sailing Club); 2 J Harvey and L Syme (Weston SC); 3 K Jones and D Grimes (Runswick Bay SC): 4 J Barnham and L Barnham (Snettisham SC); 5 B Sandeman and M Hardy (Parkstone YC). Final placings: 1 S Snell and L Moss (Snettisham SC); 2 D Lloyd and J Wilson (Stokes Bay); 3 Sandeman and Hardy; 4 Garcka and Garcka; 5 Barnham and Barnham.