Baltimore Sailing Club's Maria Coleman remains best of the squad of Irish sailors competing at the World Sailing Championships in Melbourne. The Europe class single-hander slipped from seventh overall yesterday but still holds 11th overall with two days of racing remaining.

Weather on Port Philip Bay started out light last weekend but for the past two days, 20 knot winds and short seas have been testing the fleet with considerable damage among the lighter boats.

The Laser World Championship ended with Jon Lasenby achieving his best result to date, an eighth that brought him up to 27th place overall. Atlanta '96 silver medallist Ben Ainslie from Britain won the title from his gold medal rival Robert Scheidt of Brazil as their duel at the front of the fleet continues, setting the pace for their 140 other contenders.

Finn sailor John Driscoll dropped from 11th to 17th overnight and while rival David Burrows picked up four places to 30th, Colin Chapman dropped nearly 10 places to 47th. Although Skiff 49er sailors Mel Collins and Fraser Brown are 54th overall following rig problems earlier, their consistency continues with two 11ths and a 12th yesterday.