Home sailors dominate Paralympic classes as New Zealand make strides in Olympic events at ISAF World Cup

New Zealand and hosts Britain enjoyed a successful penultimate day of the World Cup ©Getty Images

British Paralympic sailors earned International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup triumphs as racing resumed on the fourth day of the regatta at Weymouth and Portland.

Helena Lucas led the British charge as she earned the final two victories in the 2.4 metre class to end her week’s work with six wins from six races.

Alexandra and Niki Birrell, meanwhile, sealed the SKUD 18 category with a total of eight points, with Italian pairing Marco Gualandris and Marta Zannetti finishing two points behind to earn a second place finish.

But Britain’s Sonar team of John Robertson, Steve Thomas and Hannah Stodel were forced to settle for the runner-up spot as Australia’s Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden ended the competition with a five point advantage over their closest challengers.

New Zealand’s sailors proved to be in blistering form ahead of tomorrow’s medal races as Alex Maloney and Molly Meech maintained their overall advantage in the 49FX class with four solid finishes, including a victory, to give themselves a five point lead over Brazilians Martine Soffiatti Grael and Kahena Kunze.

Their performance was bettered by their compatriots Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in the men’s 49 class after they secured two wins and two second place finishes to all but seal the title tomorrow, as they are 18 points clear of their fellow Kiwi’s Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski.

The theme of the day continued as Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie kept hold of their two point women’s 470 lead despite the best efforts of Britain’s Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark.

In the corresponding men’s event Australia’s Mat Belcher and Will Ryan lie seven points adrift of the United States’ Stuart Mcnay and David Hughes ahead of the medal race.

Australia's Will Ryan and Mat Belcher remain in contention in the men's 470 event ©Getty Images

Nick Dempsey looks increasingly like getting the better of his battle with his British team-mate Tom Squires in the RS:X as he earned three races wins and one second place to stretch the gap from one point at the start of the day to six by the close.

Fellow Briton Isobel Hamilton’s lead in the women’s event is more precarious, as Italy’s Flavia Tartaglini lies within striking distance just two points in arrears and further success could be on the cards for the home nation in the men’s Finn classes as Giles Scott leads New Zealand’s Josh Junior by six points.

"I think Josh and I have a jump on the rest and so he will be close to my attention," said Scott ahead of the final day.

"It will be an interesting one, it has been a while since I have had such a tight Medal Race so it will be good to do."

Only a disaster in the medal race will see the Olympic silver medallist Marit Bouwmeester leave British shores witout gold as her near perfect week in the women’s Laser Radial, in which she is yet to finish below second, has given her a margin of error of 15 points over Belgium’s Evi Van Acker.

By contrast the men’s Laser four points separate leader Tonci Stipanovic of Croatia, Matt Wearn of Australia and Phillip Buhl of Germany, while Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Damanin have a seven point advantage over Matias Buhler Matias and Nathalie Brugger ahead of the Nacra 17 medal race.