British pair are world champions

BRITISH husband and wife team, Barry and Sue Parkin, are the new Subaru Flying Fifteen World Champions, after an unbelievably close finish to the five-race series at Dun Laoghaire over the weekend.

The National Yacht Club duo of Justin Burke and Alan Green secured the best ever Irish finish with fifth place overall after a thrilling final race held in light misty conditions.

Parkin crossed the finish line in seventh place yesterday with Mike Hart in ninth - the pair finishing the overall series on an identical 42 points.

The Championship was determined on the highest finish in previous races. The winner of the Subaru Cup for the best Irish pair went Justin Burke and Alan Greene, who finished 33rd yesterday to end the championship as the fifth best Flying Fifteen sailors in the world.

No less than seven Irish boats finished in the top 30. Sean Craig/Stephen Boyle finished a strong 12th place, Gerry Donleavy/Ciaran Crummey finished 17th - just ahead of Ian Matthews/Ben Mulligan.

Ireland's largest racing yacht, The Nicorette Challenger which currently holds the Round Ireland World Speed Record, had an exciting start in the Super fleet at the Rolex Fastnet race 2003 yesterday.

The Irish owned and crewed Maxi 80, Nicorette Challenger was amongst the big hitters Nokia, Alfa Romeo and ZephyrusIV.

After a slow start the Nicorette Challenger found her feet and over took Kingfisher, Ecover and Motorola.