DORSET'S 49er sailors are ready to pounce to glory after roaring back into bronze medal position.

Weymouth and Portland's Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks enjoyed one of their best outings yesterday in Athens after a day in which everything changed round at the top.

The Britons, who were world champions in 2003, closed the gap on the fleet leaders and crucially bolstered their medal prospects by opening up space between themselves and fourth.

An eighth and a second in races ten and 11 saw them start to move away with the Spanish favourites Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandeaz and the surprise package Ukranian duo.

Draper, 26, who lives in Castletown, Portland, said: "We are really looking forward to the remaining five races of the event and we feel well placed going into the final race.

"We are ready to pounce."

He added: "It has been very tricky on our course but we have been relatively consistent, or at least as much as you can be.

"We certainly won't be changing our tactics going into the final days of the event."

The remaining five races of the 49er class are scheduled to take place today, tomorrow and Thursday.

Draper and Sydney silver medallist Hiscocks, 31, are one of the favourites for the event, which is making only its second Olympic appearance after debuting in Sydney.

They are famous for their last minute pushes at major

tournaments, and were lying in fifth place going into the last day of this year's worlds, in which they took a silver.

Results after 11 races (including two discards):

1 Luka/Leonchuk UKR 4,(15),3,7,2,10,7,5,9,5,3 55pts

2 Martinez/Fernandez ESP 3,11,7,5,1,(12),2,6,12,1,9 57pts

3 Draper/Hiscocks GBR

8,5,6,3,10,8,1,(13),11,8,2 62pts