The powerful Danish team achieved a middling first race today in 12 to 15 knots, but there was no looking back from that point on as they went on to a 1,2,1 in the final three races for the Olympic skiffs class.

Hansen and Iversen have a significant five-point lead going into the final day of racing tomorrow thanks to the fact that all three of the teams behind them suffered from a capsize in the course of a difficult day of sailing.

The most dramatic of these came surprisingly in the slightly lighter air of race two, where Britain’s Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey - who'd sailed a perfect race to that point with a huge lead - flipped just metres from the finish.

"We had an awkward angle for that final gybe right on top of the gate mark, and with the skewed waves it was a tough manoeuvre and we didn’t get it done," said Dobson.

Had the British pairing managed to complete their final 20 metres without a hitch, they would currently lead the Championship; as it is, they stand fourth.

But Tidey was philosophical.

"That’s the game of sailing, isn’t it?" she said.

"And we’ve got another day to go out and give it our all."

Olympic gold and silver medalists Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze of Brazil, and Alex Maloney and Molly Meech of New Zealand each capsized once in the final, ultra-windy race, finishing seconds from each other in 10th and 11th position.

They sit in the silver and bronze positions going into the final day of action.

As the FX fleets finished racing for the day, PRO David “CJ” Campbell-James abandoned all racing for the day.

"Thirty-one knots on the course, massive seas, and no real prospect of any relief until sundown…it's frustrating, but going out there now would be unsafe so we’ll resume in the morning," he said.

Surprisingly for a team with a solid lead for what would be their first-ever world title, 2017 European champions Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell were disappointed to have missed more sailing.

“With the way we’ve been sailing in this breeze, we were looking forward to the opportunity to put more good finishes on the board and go have some fun,” said Fletcher.

The team scored three straight wins to take the lead yesterday, and with their boat in perfect preparation, the British pairing are feeling good about their chances.

"Yesterday was awesome fun – it’s exactly why we sail the 49er, and a big confidence builder with the upwind and downwind pace we had," said Fletcher.

"We hope the breeze plays ball and we can put on a bit of a show for everybody.”

The final day of racing begins at 10am tomorrow as the men’s 49ers get onto the water, with the FX fleet following.

The medal races – short, intense races for the top 10 teams in each fleet – will take place in the early afternoon.