COMPETITION in the remaining classes is becoming as hot as the Savannah sun as yesterday saw the medals awarded in Star and Finn fleets after a 10 race series. The weather improved and the sorely missed sea breeze returned to enliven racing.

The wind brought a new lease of life to the women's 470 crew of Denise Lyttle and Louise Ann Cole, who had their best result to date yesterday. A fifth improves the pair to 13th from 15th and are just a few points away from the top 10 with two races today and the final on Thursday. Yesterday's race was unscheduled but was sailed to make up for lost time during the windless days last week.

Mark Mansfield and David Burrows continued their rally with a solid fourth place, while similar form for the unsailed 11th race would certainly have given them a top 10 result. However, a lack of consistency denied them a chance of contesting for the medal placings.

Meanwhile, Ireland's other keelboat crew ended their Olympic campaign yesterday when they missed qualification for the Soling match racing finals. Marshall King, Dan O'Grady and Garrett Connolly had been well inside the top six criteria for the finals during the first week, but slipped out of contention over the weekend when they were unable to maintain consistent top 10 or higher results. They eventually finished 16th out of 22 boats.

Despite the weather suiting John Driscoll in the opening days of the event, the single hander was unable to break into the front end of the Finn class by the time the series ended yesterday. A 10th and a 16th were his best results and he was placed 24th overall.

Mark Lyttle continues his great form with two more 10th places in the 56 boat Laser fleet yesterday. He now lies eighth overall going into his final race tomorrow.

Ireland's other class competing in a final race tomorrow sees Aishling Bowman in eighth place after dropping from fifth due to a 10th and 20th yesterday.