Sailing: Admiral's Cup duo in the frame

The steady progress of the British Admiral's Cup team, continuing its winter training at the SORC regatta in Miami, continues as both the 36- footer, Tim Barrett's Bradamante, and the 40-footer, Tony Buckingham's Easy Oars, hold top three places going into the final day.

On Bradamante, the tactician Ian Walker is pleased with the boat's speed and overall performance while Easy Oars is due to fit a new mast and sails once further calculations by the designer Bruce Farr are completed. Graham Walker's 45ft Indulgence is showing bursts of speed the equal of the other Corel 45s.

A hatful of protests and a couple of collisions marked the start of the fourth leg of the BT Challenge from Sydney to Cape Town. Commercial Union first had a minor bump with overall leader Group 4 and then managed a premature start.

Heath Insured II and Courtaulds International were neck and neck round the first turning mark at Shark Island with Courtaulds first round the exit mark at South Reef. Last night the 14 yachts were enjoying spinnaker runs down the Tasman Sea.