Two further races of the Optimist world championship were sailed in 13-14 knots, a wind increase which benefited the heavier teams such as Poland. With eight races sailed one discard has now been taken.

Royal Lymington YC sailor Greg Carey (GBR) continued to sail superbly but, in the happy position of having a low discard, has for the moment slipped one point behind Sebastian Peri Brusa (ARG). A ten point gap has now opened up between these two and defending champion Filip Matika (CRO) but the field is then very close with good days from Jesse Kirkland (BER), Peruvian Brenko Markovinovic and Tomasz Januszewski (POL) raising them on the leaderboard.

Girls favourite Hannah Mills had an OCS and will have to be both careful and fast for the rest of the regatta. In the meantime Peruvian “veteran” Tania Zimmermann is best girl following a disappointing day for Alessandra Ferlich (ITA).

Lukasz Przybytek (POL), who seemed well out of contention with a DSQ and two OCSs in the first five races, has admirably refused to give up and scored second and third for the day.

Tday there’ll be a lay day and a chance for the team racing event to kick off. A total of 16 teams qualify for the team racing on the basis of results in the first five individual races. Top four seeds are Italy, 2002 silver medallists Croatia, Japan and Great Britain.