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After five races of the Women's RS:X Opening Series, Jian YIN (CHN) is in the enviable position of only excluding a score of 3 from her points total . Asked if she was feeling confident, the Athens silver medallists responded, "I always had confidence, not just today."

So far YIN has scored three wins and a pair of thirds, but she has competitors hot on her heels. Jessica CRISP (AUS) added a win to her scorecard and following the completition of race 5 could exclude one race score from her Opening Series total, putting her only four points off the lead and looking in good shape to win her first Olympic medal after three Games.

"It was only at the bottom mark the last time that I took the lead. Bryony SHAW [(GBR)] was leading early in the race, but was scored OCS [over the start line early]. It's excellent having a win in the Olympics. It feels pretty good," CRISP said.

The Australian windsurfer also said she enjoyed the slightly fresher conditions, as did most of the fleet. Although predominantly at her best in a very light breeze, YIN was not fazed by the 9-12 knot winds. In fact, she enjoyed them.

SHAW's OCS was used as her race drop and she maintains fifth place overall, just one place behind three-time Olympic medallist Alessandra SENSINI (ITA). SENSINI was disqualifed from race 5 ífor failing to keep clear after a collision with Marina ALABAU (ESP), but stills maintains fourth overall as she excluded the letter score from her points total.

World #1 and first-time Olympian ALABAU also kept up the pressure with her fifth in race 5 for third overall, while Barbara KENDALL (NZL), a mother and holder of a full set of Olympic medals, took second, making the best of the breeze to consolidate and hold on to sixth overall.

Interestingly, the Women's RS:X fleet is going with the form book more than any of the 11 other sailing events at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Now the six most fancied for medals fill out the top six places at an Olympics where that is not true of any other class at this stage of the competition.

Only one race was held today as the start was delayed until late in the afternoon due to shifty light breezes earlier in the day and the threat of a thunderstorm. The series is to continue on Course B on Saturday for the 27-strong fleet.

Overall Results - click here