Rough waters fail to thwart British pair

Ben Ainslie is level on points with Frenchman Jonathan Lobert at the top of the Finn fleet after a testing day’s racing, which saw him capsize in wind conditions that reached 22 knots.

Mills and Clarke dealt well with the strong breeze to claim finishes of eighth and second from their two races, securing a 10-point lead over Japan’s Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata.

“We’re really pleased with our day on the water today,” said 31-year-old Clark.

“When Hannah and I teamed up in February, one of our areas of concern was how we’d perform in the big breeze so we’re definitely pleased to have come off the water with a second and an eighth.

“A few people have got a better day than us, but not many.”

After a difficult day on Saturday, the 470 men’s team of Nick Rogers and Chris Grube bounced back with a third and sixth from their two races to move them into fifth place overall after six races.

“It was physical because the chop was so on and off, especially down by the (harbour) wall it was a real mess,” said Rogers, who won silver with Joe Glanfield at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

In the heavyweight Finn fleet, Ainslie finished sixth in the first race of the day but in the second he had to recover from a capsize, which left him in 18th place at the third turning mark.

But the triple Olympic gold medallist picked his way back through the fleet to finish in fifth.

“I made a few mistakes today so it wasn’t the best day I’ve ever sailed in my life, but sometimes that happens,” said Ainslie.