The overall lead for the Byte World Championships changed hands for the third time in as many days yesterday as home town favourite Malcolm Smith remained within striking distance of claiming Frenchman Jean Baptiste?s vacant crown.

Former World Sunfish champion and 2003 Male Athlete of the Year Smith managed to string together five top ten finishes, including a bullet during yesterday?s opening race, to remain on the prowl for top honours.

Smith trails leader Nicolas DeCruz of Singapore by only four points with six races remaining in the international regatta, being contested by 33 sailors from four different continents.

Overnight leader, Bermuda?s Eleanor Gardner slipped back to eighth spot but still remains in contention for women?s honours, while compatriot William Hutchings swapped positions with Smith.

Defending women?s champion Hana Blore slipped from ninth to 13th.

?I had a good, consistent day . . . I got a first in the first race,? Smith smiled.

The joy, however, would be short -lived.

?Second race I just got to the wrong side of the course and ended up pretty much recovering the whole race,? Smith explained.

The veteran skipper then narrowly missed out on scoring a second bullet of the day in the fifth race.

?I was leading the race the whole way and had a reach run to the finish,? Smith added. ?I held it on the run but just had a bad gybe down at the leeward mark before we reached for the finish and I just couldn?t get in leading at that point.

?One of the Singapore kids rolled over the top of me and I just got drafted by him and then two more rolled down below me and I just couldn?t get in, they were just all over us today.?

Bermuda and Singapore have dominated the championships so far, and look set to continue to do so right down to the wire.

?Off wind they (Singapore) are extremely fast,? Smith noted. ?And that?s where I thought I lost a lot of points today.

?Upwind I had a great day and really did well in the shifts. Boat speed was also exceptionally good, but I just had to stay consistent for the rest of the day to try and stay in touch with this guy (DeCruz).

?But we still have another five or six races to go and as long as I can keep it close and gain a few points on Nicolas (DeCruz), everything should by okay.?

Upon the completion of 18 races all skippers will be permitted three drops.

On another bright note, Bermuda?s Stevie Dickinson moved up from 11th to sixth spot, despite breaking a mast during the first of five races yesterday and then capsizing in the fourth race and surrendering pole position.

?I?ve been unlucky on a few occasions, but I am still smiling and trying my best out there,? said a philosophical Dickinson. ?We have another two days of racing to go and I seem to be getting a little faster and faster each time. Hopefully I can go on and represent my country well.?

Dickinson?s compatriot, Alice Jolley, suffered a similar fate in the third race when he also broke his mast. However, both skippers were awarded a redress (average of their points for other races competed in) after the jury decided both skippers were not at fault for their misfortunes.

Dickinson paid a heavy price for pushing the envelope in the day?s penultimate race.

?I was a bit too aggressive and really angry because I should have been more patient,? he lamented.