Ainslie leads British charge

Triple Olympic champion Ben Ainslie claimed two more race wins at the Palma World Cup regatta to take a 23-point lead in the Finn class as British sailors were not put off by delays caused by light winds.

Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson maintained their lead at the top of the Star class with sixth and seventh finishes and Paul Goodison enjoyed the most consistent day of the Laser gold fleet as sixth and fifth pulled him into a tie for second with Skandia Team GBR team-mate Nick Thompson.

In the 49er fleet European champions Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign won their first two races before posting a 12th in the third to pull them up to 14th after a disappointing first half to their regatta.

John Pink and Rick Peacock held on to their second place in the hugely competitive skiff fleet.

Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark were also making a late bid for the medal race positions after finishes in fourth and first moved the World Championship silver medallists up to 14th.

Team-mates Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth dropped out of the top three and lie seventh.