SAILING: The final test for the three Ireland teams leading the Rolex Commodore's Cup began in Cowes yesterday evening when the massed fleet of 39 boats from 13 countries started the Offshore Race of the series.

With up to 180 miles (290 kilometres) of racing and triple points scored for the outcome of this race, hopes of an Irish win stand on the brink of success or failure until the results are known, possibly as late as tomorrow lunchtime.

After two days of acrimony and tension before the international jury, the massive points cushion that once stood at 30 points between third and fourth place was cut severely yesterday following reversals of earlier jury decisions.

An attempt by Colm Barrington's second-placed Ireland Orange team to break the stranglehold of first-placed Ireland Green backfired, dropping the most experienced Irish skipper to third place.

The overall standings going into the final race were Ireland Green (1st - 48.5), White (2nd - 53.25) and Orange (3rd - 63.5). Rarely, if ever, in sport have the tri-colours stood so uneasily alongside one another.

Having expected that an Irish win of some colour was inevitable, Barrington's team attempted to wrench the top spot from the leaders.

None of the nine crews that departed for Cowes left Ireland with a goal other than overall victory.

While talk of tension between the Irish was doing the rounds along the waterfront and beyond, unlike previous events and other nations, nobody can level the charge that Ireland is treating this team-based regatta like a team-racing event, where winning boats are "taken out" by under-achieving rivals.

Meanwhile, principal rivals France Blue disposed of the points cushion and brought their score to 66 points yesterday morning when the jury granted the three boats redress for an earlier race after an appeal on technical grounds. France Blue successfully argued that a malfunctioning official radio that broadcast the course was responsible for their error.