The winds died down in Auckland to allow a full day's racing ©49er Class

The American pairing of Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Anna Tunnicliffe Tobias and Paris Henken claimed the lead, as the 49erFX fleets began racing at the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Auckland.

No 49erFX or Nacra 17 action was possible yesterday due to strong winds at Royal Akarana Yacht Club, with an extended schedule today to make up for what was missed.

Thirty-seven-year-old Tobias showed she has not lost any of her ability, starring alongside a partner 14 years her junior.

The pair were only 18th in their first race, but claimed two victories on their second and third trips to the water.

A fifth in race four means they tallied up seven points, level with Denmark's Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen.

Tobias and Henken have the lead on account of their two race wins, with the Danes tasting victory once alongside finishes of second and fourth.

Singapore's Kimberly Lim and Cecilia Low, New Zealand's home pairing of Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech, and Brazil's reigning Olympic champions Martine Grael with Kahena Kunze all ended the day as the nearest challengers to the top two with 14 points each.

Dutch defending world champions Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz are ninth with 19 points.

The first day of Nacra 17 racing was dominated by Britain who occupy the top two positions.

Three classes are contesting their World Championships in New Zealand ©49er Class
Three classes are contesting their World Championships in New Zealand ©49er Class

John Gimson and Anna Burnet were first twice and second twice in the mixed class to lead with four points.

Their compatriots Ben Saxton and Nicola Boniface also won twice, as well as finishing third, but suffered a disqualification and have five points in second.

The British battle is intriguing, as only one of the pairs can be selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Americans Riley Gibbs and Anna Weis and Danes Lin Cenholt and CP Lubeck also both have five points.

Olympic champions Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Saroli of Argentina are 11th on 18 points, while defending world champions Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti of Italy are 23rd with 28 points.

Two 49er races went ahead across the fleets on day one, with Austria's Benjamin Bildstein and David Hussle climbing into the lead today after ending first, fifth and second twice.

They now sit on 15 points, a lead of one over New Zealand's Rio 2016 Olympic champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.

The home pair claimed a race win as they climbed up from 11th position overnight.

Day one leaders Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel of Germany have slipped to third on 16 points, the same as Burling and Tuke.

Racing continues tomorrow.