Burling and Tuke climbing high

Reigning Olympic champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have continued their rise in the 49er fleet.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke
Photo: World Sailing

The duo excelled in the treacherous conditions, banking three low scores to climb to second overall but level on points at the top with Britain’s Dylan Fletcher-Scott and Stuart Bithell with three more qualifying races tomorrow.

They finished third in race seven to move up to third out of 19 boats.

Burling and Tuke then finished sixth in race eight and second in race nine, putting on a masterclass in winds that rarely exceeded seven knots.

“It was definitely a very different day to what we have had so far at this regatta,” Burling said.

“The breeze was wobbling enough to keep things interesting so we’re just really happy to walk away with three low scores.

“The boat felt good out there and we were able to play a pretty low-risk game because of that. It’s pretty easy to walk away with a [score of] 20 in those kind of conditions so we have got ourselves right in the hunt for tomorrow.”

Only five points separate the top four crews, and results tomorrow will go a long way to deciding the medals.

“There are still plenty of points to play for and we will just have to do exactly what we did today and post three low ones and try to be in as best shape as possible heading into the final race.

“There’s nowhere else we would rather be. It’s a heck of a battle and we’re loving it.”

Dan Willcox and Paul Snow-Hansen danced with danger in the men’s 470 but emerged in third overall with two more days of qualifying.

And Sam Meech punched out a third in his last race in the Laser and will go into Sunday’s medal race in eighth and with a mathematical chance of clinching what seemed an unlikely medal even yesterday.

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech in the 49erFX finished 19th in their third race,dropping to 11th overall with three more qualifying races.

“It felt like we had the boxing mitts out today,” Snow-Hansen said.

“Nothing came easily. At times it felt like you were getting ahead but the fleet was tight. I think just being in touch with the medals is where you want to be with a bit of time left.”

Josh Junior returns to action in the Finn on Saturday in seventh overall, and Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson will also compete again after a day off in the Nacra 17 and will start 12th overall.