BRITISH sailors made the most of a second day of perfect World Cup racing conditions in Hyeres, with four British boats at the top of the class standings at the end of the two-day qualifying series.

Weymouth’s Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth are in pole position in the women’s 49erFX event World silver medallists Ben Saxton and Hannah Diamond proved almost unstoppable in the Nacra 17 multihull event yesterday, with two race wins and a fifth for their efforts elevating them to the top spot of the leaderboard after six races at the French venue.

Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign continued a confident start to their title defence in the 49er class with two race wins and a fourth boosting them to the top of the standings.

They posted two second places and a win from their three races to earn them the yellow jerseys for the first day of gold fleet racing on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Paralympic Sonar team of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas retained their overall lead for a second day.

The trio picked up a second and a race win – a score mirrored by the French world champions Jourdren-Vicary-Flageul – to keep the overall lead on countback after four races.

In the 2.4mR Paralympic class, Portland’s Megan Pascoe retained her overall third place for a second day, picking up a three and a two from her two races, while Helena Lucas advanced to fourth.

Sophie Weguelin and Portland-based Eilidh McIntyre also kept hold of the red bibs for overall third in the 470 women’s event.

The British Sailing Team’s windsurfing men enjoyed a great battle on the water, with Podium Potential sailor Tom Squires getting the better of Nick Dempsey in the first race of the day, before Dempsey fought back to edge out his apprentice and make it a British one-two in the second race.

They’re placed eighth and ninth overall after six races.

Nick Thompson is the leading British Laser sailor in 11th, while Portland’s Luke Patience and Elliot Willis are poised in 15th heading into the final series starting today.

Racing at the ISAF World Cup Hyeres continues until Saturday.