Nick Dempsey remains equal top of the men's RS:X standings at the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta.
British windsurfer recovers well from tough start
Nick Dempsey remains equal top of the men's RS:X standings at the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta after recovering well from a tough start on day three.
Great Britain's windsurfing hope could only finish 10th in race five, which was won by Dorian van Rijsselberge, but he claimed a victory in race six to put him level with the Dutchman.
The 30-year-old said: "The race conditions were tough. It was a battle between the gradient and the breeze, making the racing a bit like snakes and ladders. A bit up and down.
"In the first race today I just got nailed. I pulled back a few but not many, it was pretty difficult.
"Then the second race was slightly more straightforward and I just nailed it really.
"I just tried to put my head down and it was a good win. From the start I was pretty much away."
Tough battle
Dempsey admitted he expects it to be between himself and Van Rijsselberge for top spot when they return after Sunday's rest day, while the Dutchman was full of praise for his British counterpart.
"We have a huge respect for one another," he said. "We really enjoy what we are doing.
"There is much more emphasis on performance. We're both dedicated and professional. I think it is wonderful that we are the only ones with first places.
"We are going totally different ways, keeping an eye on each other but not match racing. It's all rather exciting. There's a neat culture in windsurfing."
Bryony boost
In the women's RS:X race, Britain's Bryony Shaw finished the day in fourth place after winning race five and finishing the afternoon's final race in sixth place.
Marina Alabau of Spain currently leads the standings and lies 10 points ahead of Shaw, who remains positive of medalling.
"Yesterday I gained seven points but on the sixth race it was a bit of an unfortunate start," she said.
"We were watching the clouds and where the winds were building up on the course, keeping an eye out.
"We are getting really good knowledge that hopefully will help us in the regatta."
The shock of the day came in the women's match racing class, where the British team were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by France.
The Macgregor sisters - Kate and Lucy - and Annie Lush were expected to thrive at the regatta but lost 3-0 to France, much to the latter's frustration.
"Today we are disappointed," said Lush.
"At the end of the Round Robin we were doing really well but today was disappointing.
"There are lots of positive from the Round Robin stage and lots to take on from the quarter-final today."
Brits battle
There is some positive news for Britain in other classes, with Olympic three-time gold medallist Ben Ainslie leading the Finn standings after two races.
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark have racked up a nine-point lead in the women's 470 division, although the pairing of Nick Rogers and Chris Grube are not faring as well in the men's event and lie in 11th.
Elsewhere, Charlotte Dobson finished Saturday's Laser Radial races in ninth, Paul Goodison lies sixth in the Laser class and British duo Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes sit fourth in the 49er fleet after the first day's racing.
Finally, Olympic and world champions Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson are in 11th overall in the Star after a seventh in their first race and 14th in their second.
Racing will continue on Sunday for all classes expect the RS:X windsurfers, who have a rest day.
