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It was a long wait for the windsurfers competing on day three in Brest. Finally the wind filled in to 8-10 knots and the men's yellow group started at 18:46; the blue at 18:54; and the women at 19:19. The one race brings both series up to five in total, allowing the competitors to exclude their worst score and deciding the composition of the men's gold fleet who will go on to compete for the European title.

In the yellow group, João RODRIGUES (POR) was first out of the trap, never to be headed. Behind him, world #1 Przemyslaw MIARCZYNSKI (POL) and Nicolas LE GAL (FRA) locked horns trading second and third places right through to the finish MIARCZYNSKI finally came out on top of this encounter to finish second. Dorian VAN RIJSSELBERGE (NED) took fourth to hang onto 10th overall.

At the start, Nick DEMPSEY (GBR), Nikos KAKLAMANAKIS (GRE) and Aron GADORFALVI (HUN) were together. One of them went a fraction early and the other two immediately responded. All three were called OCS. That is effectively the end of DEMSEY's medal hopes. There is no way back for him. He is already carrying a BFD so will have to take the points and try and somehow get back from 29th to something more respectable.

Over in the blue group, Henry QUENTIN (FRA) who like Faustine MERRET (FRA) in the women's fleet, is racing on his home water, took a well deserved second and having taken his discard has jumped up to share third overall with KAKLAMANAKIS, although he cannot afford another slip.

Despite the weed in the water, the top four women maintained their dominating position at the top of the leaderboard.

Zofia KLEPACKA (POL) won Tuesday's race to jump to the top of the standings, overtaking MERRET, who is just one point behind. Marina ALABAU (ESP) and Charline PICON (FRA), who finished third and second respectively in Tuesday's race, are tied in third, just one point behind MERRET.

Reigning World Champion Alessandra SENSINI (ITA) has retired from the European Championship, despite an impressive start which leaves her fifth at the halfway stage, even though she did not compete in Tuesday's race.

She expressed her regret at having to pull out but she has not recovered after feeling distinctly 'under the weather' for the last couple of days. So she has made the sensible decision to go home and get well ready for the Olympic Sailing Competition.

There is a rest day on Wednesday so no racing until Thursday when the first warning signal will be for either the gold fleet men or the women's fleet. The men' silver fleet will have their warning signal at 13:00.

Results - click here