Sailing: Conner closes on Dalton

THE heat and windless seas of the Doldrums did their worst in the Whitbread Round the World Race yesterday, but there was no stopping Dennis Conner on board Winston, the American entry.

New Zealand Endeavour, skippered by Grant Dalton, continued to lead from its Swiss Maxi rival, Merit Cup, having had its advantage cut on the 13th day as the leaders endured unpredictable wind shifts south of the Cape Verde Islands, off West Africa.

Conner's Whitbread 60, however, swept from fifth to third overall, and possibly even second place. Merit Cup had failed to give its position yesterday afternoon with the other yachts because its computer system had faltered in the heat and was therefore notionally 27 miles behind the American boat and would have been ranked seventh.

Spain's Galicia 93 Pescanova, who had taken over the Whitbread 60 lead in third place early yesterday, was trailing both Winston and the Japanese Whitbread 60, Tokio, in fifth.

WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE First leg (Southampton to Punte del Este, Uru) Leading positions, with miles to finish: 1 New Zealand Endeavour (Maxi) 3,021; 2 Merit Cup (Swit, Maxi) 3,053; 3 Winston (US, W60) 3,026; 4 Tokio (Japan, W60) 3,031; 5 Galicia 93 Pescanova (Sp, W60) 3,033; 6 La Poste (Fr, Maxi) 3,048; 7 Intrum Justitia (Europe, W60) 3,052; 8 Yamaha (Japan, W60) 3,067; 9 Dolphin and Youth (GB, W60) 3,132; 10 Brooksfield (It, W60) 3,207; 11 Hetman Sahaidachny (Ukr, W60) 3,205; 12 US Women's Challenge (W60) 3,229; 13 Uruguay Natural (Maxi) 3,242; 14 Odessa (Ukr, W60) 5,134.