Sailing: Italian enjoys light airs: British impress with 10 in top 40

FRANCESCO BRUNI, of Italy, maintained his lead yesterday in the Laser European Championship, while the British contingent stayed in contention with a third of the round-robin races completed.

Mark Littlejohn, second overall on the first day, slipped to fifth but his place was taken by Simon Bowes-Cole, who won his second race of the day. Britain have 10 in the top 40, the figure for the cut after 15 races. These top boats will contest the final three races to decide the championship.

Again the breeze was no more than a languid south-easterly and there was no criticism of the decision to postpone the third race until today. With the tide roaring across Hayling Bay, it was a difficult enough, though many of the names in the frame for Monday's three races popped up again yesterday.

A competitor in the smaller-sail Laser Radial event, which is being run concurrently, has been given his marching orders. Croatia's Darko Supuk incurred three penalties for excessive use of body-rocking to create additional propulsion.