Tim Patton moved to within striking distance of his ultimate objective on the penultimate day of the Etchells World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island.

Going into the nine-race series the experienced sailor set his sights on finishing in the top half of the 95-boat fleet.

A highest finish to date of 18th in yesterday’s first race in Rhode Island Sound, and a 43rd in the second, kept the acting Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association president on course to do just that.

Provisional results showed Patton in 60th after seven races. He started the day in 72nd.

Patton is sailing on Thrash with crew Peter Martin and Jason Owen.

In contrast, Mark Watson, the only other local helmsman at the championship, endured a tough day at the office but still maintained his lead among the local contingent.

The Argo Group CEO had to be content with a 52nd and 91st that saw him lose traction on the leaderboard.

Provisional results showed Watson in 39th, seventeen places from where he started the day in 22nd.

That Watson sailed at all in yesterday’s light air conditions was a feat within itself having suffered a nasty gash to the head — that required several stitches — after being struck by the boom of his boat the day before while gybing in Narragansett Bay.

Watson is joined on Tiberon by crew Dirk Kneulman and Andreas Josenhans.

American Jane II, with Bermuda Olympian Jesse Kirkland serving as crew, moved up one place from 18th to 17th after posting finishes of tenth and 41st yesterday.