France 2 moved to the gold medal position after the first day of final racing at the FISU World University Sailing Championships in Cherbourg ©FISU

France 2, skippered by Pierrick Letouze, have moved into a three-point lead after the first day of final racing at the World University Sailing Championship in Cherbourg.

Having started the day joint third with the early pacemakers, Spain 2, Letouze’s boat finished top of the rankings on nine points.

They earned two wins and a second place in the first four races at this International University Sports Federation (FISU) event.

Australia 2, skippered by Thomas Grimes, dropped to second after the first day of final racing at the FISU World Sailing Championships - but they trail France 2 by only three points going into the final day in Cherbourg's huge artificial harbour ©FISU
Australia 2, skippered by Thomas Grimes, dropped to second after the first day of final racing at the FISU World Sailing Championships - but they trail France 2 by only three points going into the final day in Cherbourg's huge artificial harbour ©FISU

Australia 2, skippered by Thomas Grimes, had started the day top but could not quite match the France 2 surge after winning the opening race of the day, and reaching the overnight position in second place with 12 points.

Meanwhile Australia 1, captained by Ethan Pietro-Low, have moved into the reckoning with 17.00 points, pushing the all-female France 3 down to fourth place on 20.00 with one day’s racing to come in the world’s biggest artificial bay.

China are fifth with 26 points, and The Netherlands 1 sixth on 27.