Lymington's Iain Percy and teammate Steve Mitchell opened the Star class Bacardi Cup in Miami in sterling form with a bullet in the first race.

sailing off the idyllic Florida coast, they held back seven-times Bacardi Cup champion Mark Reynolds, who was wallowing in eighth position.

The reigning Star world champions commented: "We kept it steady through a couple of good, long runs and were able to hold on to our lead. We're right where we hoped to be right now."

Percy and Mitchell maintained their lead on day two with a fifth place. The tables turned, however, on day three with a shocker from our Olympic hopefuls - Percy and Mitchell clocking a 23rd place finish.

"I went the wrong way on every run today," said Percy. "We made the wrong calls and it's a shame that we finished badly."

The story of the day was six-time Bacardi Cup champion Vince Brun and crew Brian Terhaar of San Diego who caught some incredible breezes and took a sizable lead in the third turn, finishing the race in first place. Brun was black flagged for an early start on the second day in a row and his first-place finish will not count.

Former Bacardi Cup winner Peter Bromby of Bermuda slid into first place overall with a fourth place finish. However, Percy and Mitchell have three days left to improve upon their standings and show why they are reigning world champions.

As sailing continues, a total of six races will count for the series.

BACARDI CUP OVERALL DAY THREE

Top ten: Peter Bromby and Martin Siese (Bermuda), Geroge Szabo and Christian Finnsgard (USA, Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell (UK), Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl (USA), Andy Lovell and Eric Oetgen (USA), Augie Diaz and Mark Strube (USA), Ian Walker and Nick Williams (Australia), John Kostecki and Austin Sperry (USA), Doug Schoefield and Robert Schoefield (USA), Jez Fanstone and Luke Chapman (UK).