Sailing: Dickson nudges ahead

NEW ZEALAND yesterday tuned into the nailbiting climax of a weekend finish with every hope of a local winner as the leaders in the Whitbread Round the World Race slugged out the last 350 miles of the third leg, writes Stuart Alexander from Auckland.

Positions were constantly changing as the top six beat their way upwind to the turning point of Cape Reinga and the final 200 miles to the finish and, for four of them, home.

Chris Dickson's Whitbread 60, Tokio, had nudged Grant Dalton's maxi, New Zealand Endeavour, all day before gaining a one-mile lead, with Ross Field's Yamaha 11 miles further astern.

WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE Third leg (Fremantle, Aus, to Auckland, NZ) Positions with nautical miles to finish: 1 Tokio (Japan) 385; 2 * New Zealand Endeavour (NZ) 386; 3 Yamaha (Japan) 397; 4 Winston (US) 398; 5 Galicia 93 Pescanova (Sp) 401; 6 Intrum Justitia (Eur) 412; 7 * La Poste (Fr) 424; 8 * Merit Cup (Swit) 455; 9 Dolphin & Youth (GB) 459; 10 Heineken (US) 546; 11 Brooksfield (It) 553; 12 Hetman Sahaidachny (Ukr) 693; 13 * Uruguay Natural (Urug) 925; 14 Odessa (Ukr) 956.

* Maxis BT Results Service