Now for the other side of the story on Thursday's racing:

Australia’s Tornado crew Darren Bundock and John Forbes sailed a brilliant race to lead around all marks and win race ten at the Olympics by 57 seconds today.

But … a 12th in race nine – the first race of the day - cost them their shot at winning either gold or silver medals in the last race of the series on Saturday. Bronze is now the only currency within their reach.

Both races were sailed in a light south-easterly sea breeze of 7-10 knots for race nine, 6-8 knots for race 10. The left-hand side of the course paid dividends with more pressure in both races.

However, the right did pay for a while on the second beat of race nine. Bundock/Forbes dropped from ninth on this leg while the Austrians, Roman Hagara/Hans Peter Steinacher, who rounded the bottom mark tenth, went right and rounded the second windward mark in third place.

Hagara/Steinacher finished second to the Americans John Lovell/Charlie Ogletree, who led around all marks, to lead the series with 33 points from Lovell/Ogletree 36, with the world champion Santiago Lange/Carlos Espinola third on 45 after placing 4-3 today.

Bundock/Forbes are another five points behind; equal on 50 with an old Australian adversary, Mitch Booth, now sailing for the Netherlands, crewed by Herb Dercksen.

The win in race 10, built on a good start towards the pin followed by a long starboard tack all the way left, set up the Australians’ race 10 win.

So what went wrong in race nine? Darren Bundock explained: ‘We did exactly what we did in the second race, nothing different.

‘On the second upwind, everyone was racked up and we just took a little dig out for a couple of hundred metres, then went left. And the Austrian, who was behind us, went hard right and was third to the top mark.

‘In the second race, we got a good start and headed further left than anyone. The Americans were below us and asked if they could tack.

‘We said sure and then they tacked and went across below us. We just went going a bit further.

‘Once you get in front it’s easy, you just cruise around all day. Back in 12th, it is not so easy.

‘I guess it’s now all out for the bronze medal.’