Tight action on the starting line at the Farr 40 World Championship.

NEWPORT, RI — After seven races, with only two remaining, Australian John Calvert-Jones and his team aboard Southern Star have taken the lead in the third Farr 40 World Championship by six points. Always a threat in this competitive class, Southern Star earned her spot atop the leader board by posting consistent finishes, with only one race, her first, out of the top 10—a feat unmatched by any other team in the 27-boat fleet.
When asked about his strategy going into today's final contests, Calvert-Jones said: "We just want to go out and have fun! Seriously, this fleet is so good that you can only go out and try your best, because it doesn't take much to get pushed out the back." Calvert-Jones and company finished third in the 1998 world championship regatta, and placed fourth at the worlds in San Francisco last year.
With only 11 points separating the top five boats in the standings, the World Cup trophy is definitely up for grabs. Today the competitors will endure two races to complete the nine-race series, and it's likely that the outcome will come down to the final moments of the competition. Look for a full feature report on SailNet.com on Monday. For comprehensive scores, log on to www.farr40.org.