Irish Olympian Peter O’Leary has climbed back into the top ten at the Star Class 99th Bacardi Cup on Biscayne Bay in Miami.

Sailing Dafne (IRL 8465) with Joost Houweling, the Cork Harbour helm now lies seventh overall after three races in the prestigious Star class regatta.

O’Leary, considered one of the pre-regatta favourites, was granted redress in Race One and has followed it with two top finishes.

His scoreline of 8.5, 11, 6 places the Irish crew firmly in contention at the halfway stage of the six-race series.

Race Three saw the fleet face another demanding test in strong breeze on Biscayne Bay, with nearly 80 teams battling through long, physical racing.

At the front, Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen extended their dominance with a third consecutive victory.

The American-German partnership now leads the regatta with a perfect 1-1-1 scoreline.

The leaders favoured the left side of the opening beat, with Cayard rounding the first windward mark ahead of Brian Ledbetter and Eric Doyle.

By the second mark, Norway’s Eivind Melleby and O’Leary had advanced through the fleet.

Cayard stretched clear on the final beat to secure the win.

“It was just beautiful sailing — as good as it gets on Biscayne Bay,” said Doyle, who finished second in the race.

“Paul stepped out a little bit on the final leg and showed why he’s leading the regatta right now.”

After three races, Cayard and Kleen lead overall on three points.

Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry (BRA) lie second on ten points, while Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada (POL) are third on thirteen.

Irish Fleet Update

Also representing Ireland, Robert O’Leary and Fionn Lyden sailing Swifty (IRL 8118) sit 17th overall with finishes of 15th, 36th and 12th.

Anthony O’Leary and Steyn Van Driesessel aboard Antix (IRL 8379) are currently 62nd overall after three races.