Miami Beach, Florida USA.

In a stark contrast to yesterday's 18-knot winds and lumpy seas, today's light-air conditions gave the international fleet competing in the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship a new challenge. With a total of six races completed so far in the 10-race series, Italian teams hold the top two spots where Mascalzone Latino leads with a three point lead over Joe Fly.

Stepping into the tactician's role on Mascalzone Latino was John Kostecki, who assisted owner and helmsmen Vincenzo Onorato in putting together finishes of 14-3-5. The 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and winner of the 2001/02 Volvo Ocean Race as skipper onboard Illbruck, Kostecki is one of the world's top sailors. An Olympic silver medallist (1988) and 10-time world champion in a range of one-design classes, he has also been involved in four America 's Cup campaigns as tactician.

Two-time world champion Barking Mad (USA) climbed up from seventh place into third overall. "The conditions are difficult to sail in," said Barking Mad's owner Jim Richardson.

"It was a decent day for us. We were over early in the first race and managed to get a few good breaks and ended up second, so that was a great start of the day."

In addition to Barking Mad, Groovederci 127 (USA), Twins (FRA), and Plenty (USA) were called over early and required to re-start in the first race. Opus One (GER) led the fleet from start to finish and finished over three minutes ahead of second-placed Barking Mad.

"We didn't have a good day yesterday, so we came out knowing we had to do a good job to do for Wolfgang (Stolz, owner)," said Opus One's tactician Kelvin Harrap.

"We didn't have a good start, but we managed to get out to the left-hand side of the course and it was the way to go up that beat. I think Barking Mad came out with us after being over early. We had a bit of luck and got our nose out there."

"We had enough of a lead to sail our own race the entire time and managed to extend after that and lead all way. If you can get a little break out at the top mark your options are wide open. It's not always that easy."

The second race of the day was a little less textbook for Opus One than the first, however the team now stands in seventh place overall. "Tomorrow we have to go as well as we can," said Harrap.

"We have not been starting well, and we need to get off the line to give us a chance. The boat is going well, we have good crew and Wolfgang is doing a great job, so it's up to me."

The second race - the fifth in the series - was won by Nerone (ITA) co-owned by past world champions Massimo Mezzaroma and Antonio sodo Migliori. Mascalzone Latino led on the first lap but Henrik Jensen's Silver Bullet (DEN) slipped by and took the lead, followed by Nerone, Ramrod (USA) and Morning Glory (GER). Silver Bullet held onto the lead but was challenged on the last downwind leg by Nerone, which crossed the finish line inches ahead of the Danish boat.

In the final race of the day, Peter de Ridder's Mean Machine (MON) won followed by Joe Fly (ITA) and Asterisk (DEN).

"We did a good job in minimizing the damage," said de Ridder of the race. "At one stage in the race we were pretty deep, but we had a good (downwind) run and got into the first half of the results with a 14th."