Patrick Cooper looks well-set for a podium finish as the Bermuda International Invitational Regatta heads for a potentially exciting climax.

The Bermuda skipper sits in fourth place with as many races remaining, seven points adrift of leader Pierre Crosby who is representing the Nantucket International One Design fleet.

Breathing down Crosby’s neck in second is Peter Wickwire, the defending champion of the Chester Novia Scotia IOD fleet, who trails the leader by a slim two points.

A point off of Wickwire in third is Henry Arnold who is representing the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Cooper chalked up his first bullet of the ten-race series yesterday to suggest that he and his crew are hitting their straps heading into the business end of the invitational regatta.

The same, however, can not be said for the remaining team flying Bermuda’s banner this year being led by helmsman George Cubbon.

Cubbon has found the going tough in the Great Sound so far and with only a handful of races remaining sits in eleventh, only two points from the bottom of the leaderboard.

All teams were allowed to discard their worst scores after the completion of the fifth race with a second drop to come into effect at the end of tenth and final race.

This year’s Bermuda International Invitational Regatta features 70 sailors from the United States, Canada, Britain, Norway, Sweden and Bermuda competing among thirteen teams.

Other notable skippers competing this year include Jan Petter Roed, of Norway, who is a former winner.

The start of the regatta was delayed a day because of high winds.

But the race committee managed to get the regatta back on schedule after using yesterday’s spare day to make up for Sunday’s postponed races.

On Monday the IOD racing fleet treated to a spectacular display when Oracle Team USA’s wing-sail foiling AC45S catamaran crashed the party in the Great Sound, the venue for the 35th America’s Cup.

“The guys were absolutely thrilled to have Oracle on their racecourse,” Rick Thompson, the race chairman, said. “It was very cool.”

Jimmy Spithill, the Oracle skipper, said: “The International One Design fleet was out having a race and we were absolutely tearing past them and we were getting a few hoots and hollers. People are really blown away when they see what this boat can do.”