(QINGDAO, September 12) -- Bruno Jourdren, Herve Larhant and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary of France stayed atop the Sonar fleet, but more challengers moved within striking distance by posting better scores in today's three races.

    The Race Committee did a great job in rattling off three short races and taking the fleet past the nine-race milestone, enabling crews to drop their two worst scores.

    The French team's margin shrunk to three points after they posted a 10, 5, 8 today (September 12); the 10 and the 8 being their discards.

    Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Graeme Martin of Australia stayed in second, but they also posted their discards -- a 10 and an OCS. Commenting on their disappointing day, Harrison kept his chin up and said, "Bad day for us. We had a bad start in Race 8 and could not make it up. In Race 9, we were over early but did not know it, so we continued to round the marks and were disqualified."

    Rick Doerr, Tim Angle and Bill Donohue must have been feeling the vibe from Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon on the SKUD 18 course. Like their team mates, they were low point for the day with a 2, 3, 4.

    Happy with today's low average, Doerr said, "We tried to be very conservative and let others take the risks." Still smarting from Jens Kroker, Robert Prem and Siegmund Mainka nosing them out a pin end of the finish line in the second race, Doerr said, "We gave the Germans a little present today."

    Only seven points separate the top five teams -- France, Australia, Germany, Greece and Norway, and anything can happen with up to two races being sailed Saturday, September 13, to determine who takes the podium after the sailors return to the Olympic Sailing Centre.