Wind disrupts third day of ISAF World Cup in Weymouth and Portland

Only two races proved possible on the third day of the regatta in Britain ©Getty Images

Only two races were possible on the third day of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup in Weymouth and Portland, Britain, with a constantly changing wind making conditions unsailable.

The men’s RS:X class will feel fortunate to have had one race on the third day of the five-day regatta, although the windsurfers saw two of their other races cancelled as the British battle continues for the lead.

Olympic silver medallist Nick Dempsey held the lead on the opening day only to be leapfrogged by his training partner Tom Squires following the close of yesterday's racing, with the 21-year-old having earned a narrow one point advantage with several impressive finishes.

Dempsey, however, was able to wrestle battle control by clinching victory in the classes' only race today, which gives him a current points tally of 12 from seven races in total with his worst result, a sixth place finish on Thursday, currently being discarded.

His compatriot Squires now lies in second overall, three points off the lead, after recording a sixth place finish in the day's race while Italy's Mattia Camboni is a further eight points further back in third.

There was a surprise result in the men's 470 event as French pairing Guillaume Pirouelle and Valentin Sipan, who appear out of contention for medals at the regatta, made good use of their fine start to claim victory on the course which hosted the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing competitions.

New Zealand's Paul Snow Hansen and Daniel Willcox closed the gap on the leaders in the men's 470 class ©Getty Images

"It was quite light and shifty," said Pirouelle afterwards.

"We didn't know what would happen but we managed to get a few things right.

"We had quite a good start.

"We tacked immediately to take a right shift and after that we stayed focus on the race."

New Zealand's Paul Snow Hansen and Daniel Willcox crossed the line in second after recovering from a poor start to boost their prospects of overall victory, as they now lie eight points off leaders Stu McNay and Dave Hughes, with the American pairing finishing in seventeenth place, which they are currently discarding.

Sailing is scheduled to continue tomorrow with all fleets aiming to be back in action ahead of Sunday's (June 14) medal races.