Tension will be high going into today's racing in the Heineken Laser II World Championship off Cork as the single event discard kicks into force with the fifth race of the series. New Zealand's Matthew Davies and Nathan Handley remain the overall leaders after fog and light winds allowed just one race yesterday.

Ireland's leading crews started to recover from Monday's disastrous opening race of the series and are moving back into contention but cannot afford any further slip-ups. The National Yacht Club's David Crosbie and Fiachra Rowan had 13th yesterday and they are in third overall just two points behind Brian Mobbs from Britain.

However, the two boats which stand to gain most from the discard are Ireland's pre-event favourites, both from Howth YC. European champions Tom Fitzpatrick and David McHugh on McCready Boats had another bad result yesterday, a 32nd but hold fifth overall. Laura Dillon and Ben O'Donoghue on Halidon had an eighth, rocketing the pair from 15th to sixth and within three points of their stable-mates.

While Davies and Handley's advantage currently stands at almost 40 points, if the discard is counted early it brings Dillon into second overall just five points behind the leaders and ahead of Fitzpatrick. Yesterday's light airs certainly suited the 18-year-old from Raheny although a break in the overcast weather and the prospect of fresher wind could yet be a problem for them as Dillon and O'Donoghue sail best in about 10 knots of wind.

Principal race officer Donal McClement of the Royal Cork YC got the first race away without too much difficulty in the morning but shortly after the race progressed, pressure built towards the left hand side of the course and in a mirror action of Tuesday's nightmare scenario in race one, many of the leaders were caught in the weaker air.

Meanwhile the six classes sailing for their national championships managed to get three races sailed in spite of the light conditions being experienced outside the harbour.