Bowman in fifth place

WITH the Olympic yachting events in which Ireland are involved now moving into their closing stages opportunities for significant overall results are becoming increasingly unlikely in a number of classes. Yesterday saw reserve races used for several fleets due to storms earlier in the week.

Ironically, while the race committee chose to start one hour earlier to avoid a possible mid afternoon gale, light and shifty conditions marked day five of the regatta and no strong winds set in. A hint of storm clouds at the start of the second race led to race officials shortening the Finn course, but the breeze remained light.

In the Europe fleet, Ireland's Aishling Bowman holds on to fifth place at the front of a closely packed chasing group. Bowman's first race was spent dicing with fourth placed Shirley Robertson and although beating Robertson, the British sailor holds her position thanks to her high discard and a second place in race two in which the Irish woman Was 15th.

Bowman is relying on improving her placings by errors by her higher placed rivals and had expected better fortune yesterday in the lighter airs. The top five boats are using new wing masts, introduced just before the class deadline for new equipment at the start of June. This new spar is thought to perform better in strong winds, hence the expectation of more even competition in yesterday's eight to 12 knot winds.

Just three races remain for the Europes and Bowman must halve her points to reach the bronze position. Fleet leader Kristine Roug of Denmark, who now seems unstoppable with just 12 points, had her worst result of the series yesterday an eighth spoiling her run of top three placings over the last week. Dutch sailor Magariet Matthijsse must also halve her points to reach Gold from her second place.

Laser sailor Mark Lyttle continues to `peak' in his campaign, recording another eighth and an 11th place yesterday. But the effect of Lyttle's first earlier in the week has been eroded by the additional races and his return to top 12 results. He has slipped from yesterday's overnight eighth overall down to 14th with 107 points and three races to go. The current third placed contender has 38 points.

Meanwhile, the fourth placed Irish Soling, skippered by Marshall King with Dan O'Grady and Garrett Connolly, also slipped yesterday. The trio are in seventh place following a 10th and a 19th. However, five races still remain before the match racing and they must improve by four points to get back into the top six.

Mark Mansfield and David Burrows remain unchanged at 5th overall in the Star fleet as does John Driscoll in 24th in the Finn single handers and both have four races remaining. A dramatic improvement from Driscoll now appears improbable while the Star crew have their work cut out for them to reach the goal of a top result next week.

Ireland's Denise Lyttle and Louise Ann Cole were overall after Thursday's only race but reported remedying a low boat speed problem towards the end of their second race on Thursday. Yesterday's light winds saw them slip out of the top to 14th while other favourites also had similar problems, dropping down places as well.