Light winds on the third day of the Sailing World Cup in Hyères did not favour Northern Ireland's Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern yesterday. The Rio qualified pairing dropped seven places from 17th to 24 in the 40–boat fleet. The result is a disappointment for the Ballyholme Yacht Club pair who were seeking a return to the form that brought them silver medals in Hyeres two years ago and more recently gold in Palma at the start of this month. There was also a poor performance by the Irish 49erfx sailed by Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey. The Rio qualified duo from the Royal Irish Yacht Club are 23rd from 24.
Big breeze is expected to return to the venue this morning.
Sailors had a short wait for breeze in the morning but a 7-8 knot southerly veering to the west came through allowing a good number of races across the ten Olympic and two Paralympic fleets.
Looking further afield and the breeze that pushed sailors to their boundaries on the opening day is to return on Saturday leading through to Sunday's Medal Races which will be broadcast live on the World Sailing TV YouTube Channel.
After just eight races, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke of New Zealand have opened up a 37 point lead over the chasing pack.
Will and Sam Phillips (AUS) were in contention overnight but they slipped up with a 38 and a black flag. Meanwhile for Burling and Tuke it was business as usual. A first and a ninth gives them a monstrous lead which will take the pressure off in the coming days, not that there was any in the first place.
The Australian Phiilips sailors have been pulled back into a battle for the remaining medals. Jonas Warrer and Christian Peter Lubeck (DEN) are two points off them in third and five crews remain firmly in contention behind them.
Late off the water, at 19:15 local time, the 49erFX completed four races and Sweden's Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga (SWE) held on with a steady day of racing. Their results, a 2-1-3-(14), leave them on 20 points, 13 clear of Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz (NED). Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) are up to third.