American International One Design (IOD) skipper Jonathan Telsey is within sight of achieving an elusive double when Bermuda International Invitational Race Week resumes today in the Great Sound.

Earlier this week the urological surgeon triumphantly raised the 'A' Series title on his 41st birthday and now stands a realistic chance of adding the 'B' Series crown to his collection – a feat no IOD skipper has accomplished in more than a decade.

Telsey (28) currently leads the fleet by three points. But with compatriot Bruce Dyson (31) and Norway's Jan Peter Roed (35) hot on his heels, the American knows he still has a good fight on his hands with the race for the overall Vrengen Gold Cup remaining wide open.

"Basically, we are starting from scratch.

We just have to continue to focus on team work, sail our own race and hope for the best," he said.

A close three-horse race has also emerged in the Etchells fleet between leader Chris Burch (20) and Bermudians Martin Vezina (24) and Peter Bromby (26), the defending KF Trimingham champion.

With three races and two drops to go it remains anybody's guess who will eventually claim bragging rights when all is said and done on the windward to leeward race course.

In the J-105s, Allan Williams (15) still leads an all-Bermudian fleet but with three races to go he has little margin for error as James MacDonald and Adam Barboza continue to breathe down his neck.

Things are also tight at the top of the Laser standings where only six points separate leader and defending champion Malcolm Smith (14) from third placed Stevie Dickinson (20) with three races to go and no drops remaining.

Last but not least is Bermuda's Trevor Boyce (nine) who appears destined to finally break a 25-year Gripper Trophy jinx in the J-24s.

Boyce presently leads compatriot Peter Backeberg by a 29 -point margin with female skipper Sue Wallace (35) further back in third.

See page 29 of The Royal Gazette for our International Race Week picture special.