1.
AV Yachts becalmed
0.06

2.
AV Single yacht
0.11

3.
AV American Eagle yacht
0.21

4.
AV Australia's Apollo
0.29

5.
AV Ditto Ragamuffin (2 shots)
0.42

6.
AV Morning Cloud (2 shots)
0.50

7.
AV Prospect of Whitby
1.00

8.
AV Crusade (2 shots)
1.10

9.
AV South Africa's Jackaranda (3 shots)
1.28



Initials SGM/0246


SPORT: YACHT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Leading Admiral's Cup competitors in the 605 mile (973 km) Fastnet Yacht Race to Southern Ireland and back, were sighted on Sunday (8 August) approaching the extreme tip of England's south west coastline. The race started yesterday from the southern England yachting town of Cowes. Forty three of the more than 200 yachts in the Fastnet Race are competing for the Admiral's Cup -- the unofficial world offshore championship. This is the fourth race in the series, and the British team led the field at the start, with 480 points. Australia was second with 458, and the present holder of the cup -- the United States -- was the third with 49. This last race is the most important, however, as competitors score tripe points.

The fleet ran into patches of calm overnight and was spilt up considerably. The American Eagle -- an ex-America's Cup contender and favourite in the overall race -- was leading the field on Sunday. Australia had two boats near the leader. The British team, captained by Prime Minister Edward Heath in Morning Cloud, was well up. The light winds were expected to help the smaller boats of the British team.

The race is decided on corrected handicap times, so that although the larger boats may finish the race first, it does not necessarily mean they will be the winners. The race is expected to conclude at Plymouth on Tuesday (10 August).