Conner Takes Stars & Stripes to Early Lead

Sailing in rain squalls and strong winds, skipper Dennis Conner dominated the second day of racing in the British Yachting Grand Prix in Inverkip, Scotland. After briefly trailing fellow American John Bertrand at the start, Conner took his 52-foot Formula One yacht Stars & Stripes to the lead on the second windward leg.

He beat Bertrand by over 30 seconds and leads the series with two victories and 8.5 points. Scotland’s Harold Cudmore is second with five points.

BODY SURFING

Several local competitors advanced out of preliminary heats in the World Bodysurfing Championships at Oceanside Pier. Tom Rutherford and Chris Lafferty were two of 28 to advance in three- to four-foot conditions in the men’s 25-34 division, each winning heats.

Other heat winners were Alvin Walter of San Diego, Grant Leone of Oceanside and Dr. Hal Handley of Del Mar in the men’s 35-44 division, Jack Youngs and Mark Brown of San Diego in the men’s 45-54 group, Jim Enright of Oceanside in the men’s 55-64 division and Carol Ekeland of Cardiff, Virginia Cartwright of Encinitas and Kathleen Moore of Carlsbad in the women’s 30-over group.

The finals start today at 10 a.m.

BASEBALL

A United States team from San Diego won two games on the opening day of the World Boys’ Baseball Championship in Tokyo, Japan. Three Japanese teams--Tokyo, Kanto and Kansai--and Taiwan also won their opening games in the tournament for boys ages 9-13. Each game is seven innings.

San Diego beat China’s Xian team, 9-0, and then defeated a team from Mexico City, 9-5. The tournament continues through Wednesday.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Karolyn Kirby of San Diego and Nancy Reno of Carlsbad defeated Angela Rock of El Toro and Linda Carrillo of Van Nuys, 12-3, 12-3, in the final of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Olympic Year ’92 championship at Almeria, Spain.

AUTO RACING

Team San Diego took second behind Team Seattle in round four of the American City Racing League. Mike Faulkner of San Diego, driving a Swift DB5/Ford-Cosworth, finished fourth in the 45-mile race at Seattle International Raceway. Margie Smith-Haas was seventh.