| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(20-12-2003) The 350 competitors racing at the Sydney International Regatta (SIRs) on Sydney harbour sailed in the 10 knot sou' east breeze today. All classes including the 505's raced in the overcast conditions, with a number of fleets behind due to yesterday's frustrating breeze.
Spanish 49er sailors Iker and Xabier Fernandez have jumped from third to first with a first and two second today. The Spanish team are now ahead of Australians Chris Nicholson and Gary Boyd with Danish brother Peter and Soren Hansen in third.
Michael Blackburn from Australia finished with a one, two and three in today's races to be placed first overall in the Laser fleet. Tom Slingsby from the Central coast is now in second and Pieter-Jan Postma from Denmark is placed third.
Nikki Bethwaite and her crew moved into first place after today's races in the International Yngling fleet. Melanie Dennison and her crew are in second with Neville Wittey and his mixed crew are currently placed in third.
Sarah Blanck continues to dominate the Europe class after two seconds and a first today. Verena Wagner from Austria is back in second position after a top three place in each of today's races.
New Zealand sailors Jon-Paul Tobin and Barbara Kendall lead the Mistral men and women's fleets with Michael Lancey from Australia in second in the men's division and Natasha Sturges from Great Britain in second for the women.
Anthony 'Nocka' Nossiter has six first and two second places for the regatta to lead the Finn class from WA sailors Josh Beaver and Dean McAullay.
Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page are 19 points clear of their closest competition British sailors Nick Rogers and Joe Glandfield in the 470 class. Ingrid Petitjean and Nadene Douroux continue to lead the women's fleet from Australia's Jenny Armstrong and Belinda Stowell.
Results for all classes racing at SIRs can be seen on the YA of NSW website at www.nsw.yachting.org.au with SIRs 2003 racing finishing tomorrow.
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