Ledbetter Nearing ’92 Olympic Spot; 2 Other ’88 Olympic Sailors Struggling

One 1988 U.S. Olympic sailor, San Diego’s Brian Ledbetter in the single-handed Finn class, is in good position to claim another Olympic berth, but two others will face more difficult tasks when trials in five of the 10 classes resume Friday at two Southern California venues.

Ledbetter enjoyed strong winds off Newport Beach and collected his first victory on the fourth day of trials Tuesday. He trails David Himmel of Miami, 18.7 to 19 points.

Pete Melvin of Westminster and his new crew, Chris Steinfeld of Oyster Bay, N.Y., also won their first race in Tornado catamarans at Marina del Rey, but they still trail ’84 silver medalist Randy Smyth, of Mary Esther, Fla., and crew Keith Notary. Smyth won the first three races and leads by 14 points.

John Shadden of Long Beach, who missed the first race while his wife was giving birth, is sixth, with crew Charlie McKee of Seattle, in the 470s at Newport Beach. Morgan Reeser of Miami and Kevin Burnham of Coral Gables, Fla., are far in front of the fleet with successive 1-2-1-2 finishes. Shadden and McKee won a bronze medal in 1988.

Other leaders are world champions J.J. Isler of San Diego and crew Pam Healy of San Francisco in women’s 470s and Courtnenay Becker of Rye, N.Y., in Europe dinghy.