SAILING: In spite of the almost breathless conditions on the Ijsselmeer at Medemblik, Holland, yesterday morning, Maria Coleman continued her return to form with a promising third place followed by two sixths to place eighth overall in the Europe fleet at the SPA Olympic classes regatta.

The class leader, Norway's Siren Sundby, who has been the top-scoring competitor across all classes this week, had a slip - marginal, it must be said - in form when she scored two third places against her previous seven first places this week and has a lead of 11 points in the class.

Nevertheless, following her race win on Thursday, Baltimore sailor Coleman can confirm a return to form from the period when she could have been expected to feature in the top 10 without fail.

In the 29-boat Finn single-hand class, David Burrows maintained his fifth place overall in spite of a 22nd place in the first race yesterday morning. A seventh place followed and the top three is tantalisingly close, just nine points away with today and tomorrow's racing left.

Aaron O'Grady is 23rd overall. Britain's Ben Ainslie leads the class with four straight wins.

An eighth place for Mark Mansfield and Killian Collins in the Star class helped them back up the fleet yesterday morning, from 16th to 14th overnight.

A 17th in the afternoon race was a well-earned result after the pair were barged at the start and were the second-last boat crossing the line in almost no wind for the 34-boat class.

In the 470 men's fleet, Ger Owens and Ross Killian are 16th overnight following 15th and seventh place scores yesterday. Tom Fitzpatrick and Fraser Brown were unable to make the cut for the Gold fleet and are fifth overall in the Silver division after a 13th and a third place yesterday.

Four races remains this weekend.

Among the non-Athens squad members competing, Roger Craig is 20th in the Laser class followed by Nicholas O'Leary in 44th place and James Espey in 63rd.