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Brazilians lead Star Championship

Grael and Ferreira are two-time Olympic gold medallists

MARINA DEL REY, California -- Skipper Torben Grael and crewman Marcelo Ferreira have taken the overall lead in the Nautica 2002 Star Class World Championship despite finishing fifth in Tuesday's race.

Brazilian's Grael, on temporary leave from his Prada America's Cup commitments, and Ferreira lead the 103-boat fleet by nine points.

Great Britain's Iain Percy and Steven Mitchell won Tuesday's race by 1 minute, 44 seconds over France's Xavier Rohart and Yannick Adde, putting the British team in fourth place overall with 24 points.

Rohart and Adde are in second place, followed by Paul Cayard and Hal Haenel of the United States in third place.

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The two-man Star is the grandfather of the Olympic classes and this year's event -- held every year since 1922 -- is the 81st world championship.

Twenty-six countries are represented, with 11 former class champions and four Olympic gold medallists. The Brazilians were the 1990 world champions and 1996 Olympic gold medallists in addition to winning two Olympic bronze medals.

The Star is well known for favouring heavier crews and so the class has instituted a new weight limit.

San Diego's 185-pound George Szabo, who won the first race, said: "A lot of Star crews have been on diets this year.

"It's funny seeing them at the salad bar these days."

Competitors, who are awarded points in direct proportion to their finishes, will sail one race a day until the event ends on Friday.