Group 4 place is secure for cup

Sailing

The second slot in the British Admiral's Cup team, for the Mumm 36, has been secured by Mike Golding's Group 4 following the weekend regatta in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. Sailed by Glyn Charles and Lawrence Mead, Golding's challenge is far enough ahead on points to make the offshore De Guingand Bowl race this weekend unnecessary.

"He is mathematically incapable of being overtaken by any of the other British contenders," Bill Edgerton, the keelboat coach said, "so we will be doing some training instead." This will be valuable with the Mumm 36 World Championship coming up in the Solent on 13 July.

The weather failed to improve for the Laser World Championship in Tenerife, and results yesterday were based on six rather than 10 races. Robert Scheidt, of Brazil, leads with Nik Burfoot, of New Zealand, second and Elvind Melleby, of Norway, third. The best placed Briton was Iain Percy in 16th, followed by Ben Ainslie (20th), Hugh Styles (26th), Chris Gowers (28th), Richard Stenhouse (39th), Gareth Kelly (48th), Andrew Oddie (66th), and Steve Cockerill (68th).

There was better news, though, from Bastad, Sweden, and the 470s European Championship. The British pair of Bethan Raggatt and Sue Carr were second in the women's division after six races and the world No 1 pair of John Merricks and Ian Walker fifth after three races in the men's division.

There was a depleted 470 class at Britain's Eurolymp regatta, which opened at Hayling Island yesterday. Shirley Roberston won her first two races in the single-handed Europe, as did Jamie Lea and Brian Straite in the combined 470 class which saw the women's partnerships of Katie Nurton and Camilla Mynors and the Lizzies Walker and Rushall equal third with Malcolm Hall and Simon Crowe.