The National Yacht Club's Roger Bannon broke Derek Joyce's winning grip on the Mermaid national title at the national championships off Wexford Harbour yesterday. A change in conditions brought a change in race leaders at the half-way stage of the competition as near gale-force winds gave way to a light force two breeze.

Joyce, sailing Zuleika, closed right up to Bannon's Endeavour's transom during one off wind leg but the National Yacht club helmsman kept his nerve with some excellent boat handling and broke away under spinnaker to hold a considerable margin by the running leg.