PRESSURE is building on Ireland's leading Dragon sailors at the ATS Eastern Championship at Dun Laoghaire this weekend in the lead up to the Dragon Gold Cup in July.

Four boats dominate the 28 strong fleet with national champion Simon Brien of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club holding a slim lead overall after four races. Brien's Kin had been leading race one but was protested down to 21st overall following a markrounding incident with his discard committed, a ninth followed by two first places yesterday brought him back into the lead one point ahead of Johnny Ross Murphy and Bill Nolan on China Blue from the host club in second overall.

Yesterday saw fresh onshore winds produce heavy conditions which took its toll of casualties including Ross Murphy and Nolan who did not finish due to damaged spinnaker retrieval gear.

Mick Cotter's Whisper was also forced out of contention in spite of a second in race one due to forestay problems in yesterday's first race.