Close affair

Today's final race in the Heineken Enterprise World Championship at Bray is set to be a close affair following Ian Fisher's and Simon Cook's first place yesterday. This moved the Hallamshire Sailing Club crew into first overall.

Richard Estaugh, the reigning title holder, had his worst result of the series - a fifth - and now trails the leader's by just under two points.

Estaugh's troubles aren't just limited to Fisher and Cook, however, as Frensham's Nick Craig and Mark Carlton are only two points behind in third.

It was a mixed day for Irish boats in the 104-boat fleet. National champion Roy Van Maanen with Sally Brightling had a ninth place, bringing the Greystones pair into 13th place just behind Bray's Ger Dempsey and Shane McCarthy. Van Maanen described the steady force two breeze as the best all week and, despite a poor start, managed to get into 13th place by the first mark, further consolidating to ninth over the remainder of the race.

Dempsey, meanwhile, had his worst result of the series to date. The Bray pair were 26th but are certain to maintain a top 12 overall result as a large points gap divides them from Van Maanen.

The run of improving Irish results generally ended yesterday as three boats slipped from the top 20. Junior Steve Chadwick and Alex Cuppage are third best Irish boat in 21st place overall in front of two other home crews - Marty and John Cuppage are in 22nd and Mark Usher with Bernadette Cox in 23rd. The sixth and final race of the series is due to start today at 2.30.