Malcolm Smith has only thing on his mind these days . . . winning the International Race Week Championship Trophy among the Laser fleet.

After scoring a bullet and a fourth place finish during yesterday?s opening two races off the Spanish Point Boat Club, Smith boldly declared: ?My intention is to win the regatta. But it?s going to be tough and ten races are a lot of races. It could come to the last day of racing or get worked out by the third day.?

Smith?s mission could not have gotten off to a better start, as he pipped overall day one leader Brett Wright at the death to seize line honours in yesterday?s opening race.

?It was very close and I might have beaten out Brett by a boat-length at the most,? Smith, last year?s Race Week champion among the Snipes, explained.

Second race saw Smith cash in on some ?decent-sized wind shifts? in the Great Sound.

?The start was pretty even and a few boats tacked off to the right and those who got out there far enough and early enough were able to take advantage,? he added.

?But it was tough sailing in that light medium stuff (air) and there wasn?t a big gap between first and fourth place in that last race.?

Wright, who declined to comment to , completed the day with two second place finishes under his belt to remain atop the leader board heading into today?s series of racing.

First time Race Week competitor, Bruce Snelling of the UK, wasted no time announcing his arrival among the Laser fleet.

The British aviation engineer, stationed in Iraq for the past six months, finished sixth in the first race before scoring a bullet hours after arriving on Island from the middle east.

?I caught the last drink at the welcome party straight from the plane,? he smiled.

Pleased with the day?s performance, Snelling added: ?It was quite competitive racing out there today and it is going to be difficult trying to keep it up.?

Local female skipper Sara Lane Adderley remains in third position after finishing a highly respectable third and fifth yesterday.

Meanwhile, American Michael Irgens seized line honours among the Snipe Class in yesterday?s sole race.

Canada?s Gweneth Crook placed second and US skipper Stephen Irgens third respectively in the race for the 350 Anniversary Trophy. Bermuda?s Ray Pitman finished fifth out of the six boat race fleet.