A second spectacular race win for Ireland's Ger Owens and Phil Lawton at the 470 class event at Qingdao this morning made the Dun Laoghaire pair the toast of the Irish squad at the mid-point of the series.
However, the challenging conditions at the Yellow Sea venue were rammed home when their second race of the day saw them place 25th in the 29-strong fleet, obliging them to count their lower 22nd place from race one and use the single event discard.
Owens and Lawton are hovering just outside the top ten once again but are within a few points of regaining a place in the medal race final - provided their form can settle down.
Australians Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page appear on course to take Gold thanks to a clear overall lead of the class with just four races remaining before the final.
While the five to six knot "airs" were barely sailable for the 470's, further inshore racing was delayed for the Laser Radial fleet which managed a single race in which Ciara Peelo placed 15th to lie 23rd overall.
Tim Goodbody in the Finn class placed 22nd to lie 22nd overall and like his fellow single-handers had the second race of the day postponed due to the conditions.
