SAILING/Commodore's Cup: The penultimate day of the Commodore's Cup gets under way this morning with Team Ireland in the overall lead following a strong showing off Cowes yesterday. All three boats are now sailing to their potential but the threat of the unknown from the weather looms large over the 33-boat fleet as they prepare for this evening's 120-mile RORC Channel Race.

"Fear and trepidation" is how captain Colm Barrington described his feelings about the weather outlook last night.

"On balance, we should have a very good chance, better than anyone else as offshore suits our boats. Its just the forecasts."

Conditions are expected to begin with winds of up to 12 knots from the west, but moderate airs overnight and tomorrow and unknowns could yet see the Irish squad produce a classic "hero to zero" result late tomorrow evening.

After his fourth consecutive win of the series yesterday morning, a close lunchtime race produced a second in Class Two for Barrington. Then in the late afternoon as Flying Glove led the pack around the course, they acted as a signpost when they sailed into a hole in the wind: the fleet sailed around the parked 39-footer which finished last.

But Barrington stands strong otherwise, and team big-boat Fidessa Fastwave has found her form, too. Two thirds and a first put paid to talk of the adopted boat being the weakest link of the squad. It emerged that an overnight rearrangement of the crew-position had paid dividends.

Meanwhile, team small-boat Calyx Voice & Data had a first, a third and a fifth place yesterday as her newly-launched sistership Fair Do's IV proved a tough challenge.

Team Ireland leads overnight by 4.5 points from Britain's Black team. One inshore race will be sailed this morning before tonight's RORC Channel Race starting at 6.30.