Cowes Week video report

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BEN Ainslie is coping better than most with the variables of the weather.

The three-time Olympic champion came from behind to beat Croatian Ivan Kjalkovic-Gaspic yesterday.

He finished second in yesterday's race to remain six points ahead of American Zach Railey - who had a disappointing day - in the overall standings.

But with three races to come - in addition to a medal race that is worth double points - Lymington-based Ainslie is not complacent.

"Since the score is so close, it's becoming very hard to sail tactically," he said.

"I need to keep my eye on all my opponents while also concentrating on my own race.

Those split moment judgements are making my day even harder."

The British crew of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Lymington's Pippa Wilson are firmly in charge in the Yngling class after finishing second behind the United States in race seven.

The British trio has yet to win at the regatta but have placed in the top four in six of seven races and are five points ahead of the Netherlands, who finished fourth.

"We're just sailing very well together. We're on form, we're on fire and it's just all working very easily," said Webb.

"We don't feel like we need to push it at the moment and that's a really safe place for us to be. That's how it's been for us at the last couple of world championships and that's how we sail best.

"We know we can just plug away and sail well and sail fast and come through the fleet nicely."

The British 49er crew of Stevie Morrison and Southampton-born Ben Rhodes made a disastrous start to the day when they were disqualified from race seven for crossing the start line too early.

They recovered to finish third and second in the subsequent two races to improve their position to eighth but are still a long way adrift of the medal positions.

Australia's Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin have a narrow one-point lead over the Danish boat of Jonas Warrer and Martin Kirketerp Ibsen with seven races remaining.

2:06pm Thursday 14th August 2008

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