SAILING/Commodore's Cup: Official results from the high-scoring, 125-mile offshore race of the Rolex Commodores' Cup were still awaited in Cowes last night as the final boats of the 32 starters were still at sea in near calm conditions. Provisional results indicate that the France Red Team have extended their overall lead after a second and third place by their two IMX 40-footers.

In spite of an eighth placing by Colm Barrington's Gloves Off, Ireland Team Orange was unable to improve its previous fourth overall place and faces a fresh challenge to achieve a top three result by the end of the series on Sunday afternoon.

The team's bigger boats, Mandrake and Carphone Warehouse, had established an early lead, but when the breeze failed yesterday morning east of the Isle of Wight, the smaller boats gained ground - and valuable handicap time - from behind.

"It wasn't hard enough," said Peter Morton with a big grin as he climbed off Mandrake in the West Cowes Marina. "That was one of the more tricky offshore races ever," he added, "it was a complete minefield out there."

He explained that there were patches of calm almost everywhere, and that kedging (anchoring to prevent loss of ground in a foul tide) had not been simply an option but essential.

All three Farr 52-footers, the biggest boats racing, ended up at the back of the fleet after handicap corrected times were applied to their finishing positions. Morton's Mills 50-footer fared better than Team Tonic, Bear of Britain and Chernikeeff 2, though in light of the points potential from the race this was of little comfort to the Irish team.

Barrington and his crew held a good position throughout the race and were pleased to have beaten the Kerr 11.3s that have been a constant challenge through the early days of the event. However, it was the IMX 40-footers, tipped as ideal boats for next year's Admiral's Cup, that edged out the Dún Laoghaire Corby 38 from a higher placing.

Ireland Green Team sailed the offshore race with a depleted line-up as Ger O'Rourke's Chieftain could not compete due to rigging problems. Roy Dickson's Cracklin' Rosie finished close to the big boats outside the top 20, while Simon Brown and Deirdre Horneck's White Knuckles 2 was expected to cross the line just before dusk last night.