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A good easterly wind greeted the 66 competitors in Moscow yesterday and with the wind conveniently strengthening towards the end of the races exciting finishes ensued. It was just such a blast that helped the British team of Stephen MORRISON and Ben RHODES (GBR) win back five positions and take the bullet in the red fleet in the day's opening race, race five. Meanwhile DRAPER and HISCOCKS, runners up at the Worlds in Athens, Greece last year, completed a British clean sweep with victory in the yellow fleet.

In the following race defending champions and Olympic gold medallists Iker MARTINEZ and Xabier FERNANDEZ (ESP) scored their best results of an otherwise disappointing start to the Championship, beating challenges from Alexandre MONTEAU and Damien GUILLOU (FRA) and MORRISON and RHODES to take victory.

Chris DRAPER and Simon HISCOCKS, pictured at the Olympic Games, are off to a flier in the 49er Worlds © MENAHEM KAHANA/ Getty Images

Mark roundings proved to be decisive in yesterday's races with a right tack advantage, especially on the yellow fleet course, meaning teams could make up several places in an instant. DRAPER and HISCOCKS took advantage, with sixth and fourth places in races six and eight sandwiching their third bullet of the Championship.

Jonas WARRER and Martin KIRKETERP (DEN) lie second overall after a solid performance yesterday built on their opening day salvo of four top five finishes. In third overall, MORRISON and RHODES are just three points behind the Danes, whilst Jan Peter PECKOLT and Hannes PECKOLT (GER) are just a further three points behind them in fourth. MONTEAU and GUILLOU round out the top five, tied on points with Olympic silver medallists Rodion LUKA and George LEONCHUK (UKR), who had a good day, recording finishes of 3,10,2,2.

'Very difficult races,' confessed Germany's Tomas REIN, currently lying 22nd with crew Patrick BOEHMER. 'The water area is not wide, if the wind is strong you cannot develop high speed before the turning point, you have to change tactics and I personally have a limited experience on river water areas.'

Four more races are scheduled for the final day of the qualification series today, before a lay day gives the competitors a break before the final series on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Top Ten After Eight Races

Pos	Nation	Helm	Crew	Group	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Pts
1	GBR	Chris DRAPER	Simon HISCOCKS	Yellow	1	(11)	4	5	1	6	1	4	22
2	DEN	Jonas WARRER	Martin KIRKETERP	Red	3	5	3	2	2	6	(19)	7	28
3	GBR	Stephen MORRISON	Ben RHODES	Red	2	11	(20)	3	1	3	2	9	31
4	GER	Jan PECKOLT	Hannes PECKOLT	Yellow	5	1	1	3	7	(15)	11	6	34
5	FRA	Alexandre MONTEAU	Damien GUILLOU	Red	6	9	1	(15)	8	2	7	5	38
6	UKR	Rodion LUKA	George LEONCHUK	Yellow	3	9	(10)	9	3	10	2	2	38
7	AUT	Nico DELLE-KARTH	Nikolaus RESCH	Red	(19)	6	5	1	5	7	7	13	44
8	DEN	Allan NORREGARD CHRISTENSEN	Jonatan PERSSON	Yellow	9	8	2	9	(27)	4	9	14	55
9	ESP	Alberto PADRON	Javier DE LA PLAZA	Red	5	13	(17)	1	5	5	15	14	58
10	ITA	Pietro SIBELLO	Gianfranco SIBELLO	Yellow	2	10	15	4	4	12	11	(24)	58