Dreams of racing glory ripple through calm waters

Chris Gowers follows the sun out of Weymouth yesterday as he prepares to battle with eight unseeded crews to decide today's racing order in the BT/RYA National Match Racing Championships, writes Stuart Alexander.

The unseeded crews who enjoyed the sunshine and light airs meet the winners of the regional heats and Andy Beadsworth, the defending champion. Stiffer breezes are forecast.

The seeded group contains the 1994 champion Ben Vines, the 5,000 champion sailor Ian Budgeon, and the Olympic contender, Iain Pinell. The double Olympic representative Stuart Childerley had to qualify and he tops the unseeded group, which also contains the national women's champion, Cordelia Eglin. Photograph: Peter Jay