Sporting Digest: Sailing

A RED flag PROTEST was posted within two hours of the start of the third leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race. Chris Dickson, skipper of the race leader, Tokio, claimed that Winston and Intrum Justitia were carrying mast fittings made from an illegal grade of steel which is banned in the race rules. Meanwhile, Dennis Conner's decision to go south paid off as stronger winds took Winston into the lead on the leg.