Bermuda's Craig Davis sailed away with the first jewel in the IOD crown during race day three of Bacardi Invitational Race Week yesterday.

The local sailor clinched the IOD `A' series trophy after turning in another solid performance out in the Great Sound.

And he accomplished it by hardly breaking a sweat, wresting the coveted title during yesterday's opening race in which he extended his consistent form of late by placing third in trying conditions.

And for an encore, Davis went two better to take line honours in the day's second race to remain poised in a commanding position to make a serious run for both the `B' series trophy - which gets underway today - and the fleet's biggest prize, the Vrengen Gold Cup.

Davis holds a nine point lead over nearest rival, American Robert Constable, who finished runner up to the Bermudian in the `A' series and moved into second place overall. Norway's Jan Petter Roed, meanwhile, sits in third spot.

But yesterday belonged to Davis, a veteran of numerous International Race Weeks.

"We've got one series in the bag," he said afterwards. "We managed to go out there and do most of all the right things. All in all it was a good day. My crew picked off winds very well which enabled us to get back out of a hole on one occasion. So they did a great job."

But rather then get too immersed in post-race celebrations yesterday, Davis, instead, chose to focus ahead on the bigger prize, fully aware that his rivals will be keeping a close eye on him as Race Week reaches a climax.

"There are still an additional three races to go so we can't slacken off," added the former 505 class competitor. "We need to do our best to maintain the same sort of sailing. Yes, we have a very good shot at the overall prize but we still need to go out there and keep the intensity up."

American rival Constable, also appeared to be content with yesterday's results.

"This has certainly given us a new sense of optimism," he said smiling. "It was pretty darn close - although Davis ran away with the series. Today, we had a little more breeze then we've had in the last two days. So it was a little more to our liking as heavy weather sailors from Nantucket, and we certainly like that."

Bearing the scars of battle - a heavily taped left shin - Norway's Roed reckons there's still a long way to go before the final curtain falls on the regatta.

"We are very happy about this because that boat (Slingshot) had had three lasts and a second last in the previous races and we were able to do better then that," said the veteran sailor, also with a smile.

"So we are very, very pleased . . . and it's not finished yet. We have two throw outs (drops) and we have just used them today. So watch out and come back and have a drink on us tomorrow."

Meanwhile, action also resumes today for the Etchells, J-105s, J-24s, 505s and Laser fleets where it's almost certain the competition will intensify, given that it's still anybody's series.

In the Etchells, defending champion Peter Bromby will be looking to break away from the rest of the fleet in the battle for the KF Trimingham trophy. Bromby currently shares the lead with veteran Tim Patton, while American Tim Lynch, with Bermuda's Paula Lewin onboard as tactician, trails the lead pair by a single point.

Likewise, Bermuda's Mark Cloutier will continue his quest for the J-105 BW Walker Memorial Trophy. Cloutier presently leads compatriot Glen Astwood (15 points) and American skipper Jaimie Hilton (15 points) by eight points with three races to go. If all goes according to plan, the local sailor could be celebrating later today.

In one of the closest battles, Bermuda's Trevor Boyce shares the lead in the J-24s with Canada's Rudy Wolf. Both sailors have 11 points with four races to go. Wolf's compatriot Sean McDermont, meanwhile, sits two points adrift of the leaders in third position.

Also poised to go down to the wire is the race for the 505 class title between Canada's Ali Meller and American sailor Jahn Tihansky. Meller currently leads his US counterpart by a slim two points heading into today's final series of racing.

However, Bermudian Martin Vezina shouldn't encounter too much difficulty polishing off the Laser class as he presently leads defending champion and compatriot Malcolm Smith by nine points. Bermuda's Brett Wright remains in third.

Race action begins at 11 a.m. in the Great Sound.

Lee White and Dennis Correia are Peter Bromby's crew and not Martin Siese and Brian Hillier as was reported in yesterday's Royal Gazette.