The women's final of windsurfing and the men's final were held on Thursday. Emma Wilson from Britain and Grae Moriss, an Australian, both secured Olympic medals. However the sailing medal race was postponed because two attempts to decide the men's skiff were abandoned.

The Mediterranean breeze soon died down, and the hopes that the sport would win its first medal of the Games faded.

The wind kept moving away from shore. "Every time the race committee tried to run the race, the wind just disappeared," explained Polish helm Dominik Buksak.

There was enough wind off Marseille for both the women and men to compete and determine who will go straight to the three-way final on Friday.

It's pretty cool that you are guaranteed to get a medal tomorrow. Wilson, after another dominating day said: "It's really the best I can do in this format.

Israeli Tom Reuveny and New Zealander Josh Armit will be in the semi-finals of the men's competition, along with Sharon Kantor from Israel.

The 10 crews of the "winged" skiffs, after their race had been abandoned, waited under the scorching sun in vain for a wind.

The Spanish duo Diego Botin and Florian trittel dominated in the first round, while Bart Lambriex & Floris van De Werken from the Netherlands dominated in the second.

They said that they are focused on winning the race for double points medals. Botin said, "We're always trying to focus on the next thing."

In third place are New Zealanders Isaac McHardie, William McKenzie and Robert Dickson from Ireland.

McHardie said, "It was an emotional rollercoaster. You get so close and then you have to reset. We'll look ahead tomorrow."

They said that they felt the support from shore and were used to the delays.

Waddilove said, "It is just part of playing the game."

There was no attempt made to begin the women's medal race, which had been scheduled to follow that of men.

Annette Duetz, a Dutchwoman who was second in the race behind the hosts France, said: "It seemed beautiful, when the boys were out there in the glamour conditions of sailing, but unfortunately, the wind died. You've just got to accept that." Reporting by Alexander Smith, Editing by Toby Davis Ed Osmond Bill Berkrot

(source: Reuters)