Trevor Boyce continued to set the pace in the J-24 class on day two of Bermuda International Invitational Race Week yesterday.

Sailing in light and shifty breezes in the Great Sound that severely tested the sailors' patience, it was Boyce who was the epitome of consistency among his fellow competitors.

The Bermuda skipper solidified his place on top of the overall points standings after posting two bullets and a second and remains steadily on course for a maiden Gripper Trophy which has eluded him for over a quarter of a century.

But before Boyce could celebrate another solid performance on dry dock at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club last night, he first had to find a way to keep his sanity in winds that shifted the compass point as many as 45 degrees.

"It was very shifty and tricky and you really had to have tons of patience and not get too disconcerted when you were looking at other boats that seemed to be doing much better than you. It was tricky stuff," he told The Royal Gazette.

"We spent all day looking for breeze. It was one of those days when you got more benefit from being in the wind than you did from being in the shifts.

The team spent a lot of the day looking for where the breeze was, and it paid dividends.

"The starts were very difficult because the wind was shifting so much and in the end it became critical to try and get onto the port side as quick as possible and get away with a bit of clean air.

"In the last race we actually had to miss the start altogether and gibe around behind two or three boats so that we could start off on what we thought was the right direction - and it turned out to be the right decision."

Boyce now hopes to carry on in the same vein when racing resumes today and as current form suggests he could again prove to be a tough nut to crack.

The veteran skipper is now 13 points, ahead of second placed Sue Wallace (USA) - one of three female skippers in the J-24 fleet - with Gavin Collery and Peter Backeberg tied for in third in the 13-race, two-drop series.

Yet despite holding a sizeable lead, Boyce said he wasn't taking anything for granted.

"The boat is going along well at the moment but an awful lot can happen yet," he reasoned. "There's some pretty varied conditions expected for the rest of the week and you never know your luck."

Another local skipper who thrived in yesterday's light air conditions was former Athlete of the Year Malcolm Smith who restored order in the

Laser class after perennial rival Brett Wright stole the thunder the day before.

Starting the day in fourth position, Smith strung together a first and two seconds to leapfrog Wright and move into pole position.

"I had to make up ground from yesterday (Sunday)," he said. "But it's still wide open because there's still four or five sailors who are still in with a chance. Anything can happen."

Smith's words could not have been more profound. Just ask Wright, who slipped three places in the standings and must now figure out a way to get his bid for Race Week glory back on track.

Stevie Dickson also made up ground in the Lasers, moving up one spot to second after taking line honours in two of yesterday's three races.

Also on the move yesterday was Peter Bromby who rounded back into form with a typically robust display in the Etchells class, recording two bullets and a second to get the defence of his KF Trimingham Trophy back on track.

The former Olympian now trails leader Chris Burch by three points with another son of the soil Martin Vezina also still in the hunt for top honours in third.

Bermuda's Allan Williams still leads the J-105 fleet. The Bermudian continued to impress yesterday with a first, second and fourth place finish to maintain pole position ahead of compatriots James MacDonald and Adam Barboza.

In contrast, Bermuda's Vrengen Gold Cup hopeful Jordy Walker plunged to the bottom of the International One Design (IOD) points standings following a disappointing showing yesterday.

Current IOD leader Jonathan Telsey is now firmly in the driver's seat and with another strong showing today can clinch the 'A' Series title.

Bruce Dyson remains in second followed by Norway's Jan Peter Roed who sits in third after five races.