Percy and Simpson guaranteed another medal for Team GB as pair sailing to success in Weymouth
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UPDATED:
18:30 GMT, 3 August 2012
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Britain's Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson are guaranteed to end London 2012 on the podium and head into Sunday's medal race well placed to retain their Star class gold.
The Olympic champions of four years ago have an eight-point lead over second-place Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada after the 10 opening series races.
The Brazilian pair did, though, win the first race of the day as Simpson and Percy finished fourth, although the Brits responded superbly to get a bullet.
Class acts: Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson are on course to win a place on the podium in the men's star sailing
Scheidt and Prada, with Sweden's Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen are the only ones that can take gold away from the British pair, who cannot wait for Sunday's medal race
'It was a good comeback and then a good response in the second race,' said Percy, who also boasts Finn gold from Sydney 12 years ago.
'We lost points on our rivals in the first one and came back fighting so we are pleased about that.
'It is going to be a tight one as eight points is only three places in the medal race, really.
'It doesn't count for much so it is almost going to be a one race series between three boats, but what a great occasion. What a great thing to look forward to.
'The medals are decided already, just not what colour. Because of that we will just be focusing on trying to beat those two in the race.'
Fighting: The pair lost their first race to their rivals but battled back well
Fleet: The Team GB sailors stand a good chance of taking the gold
Ainslie is not quite certain of a podium finish, but heads into his medal race with a fourth Olympic gold in his own hands as only two points separate him and leader Jonas Hogh-Christensen.
Elsewhere, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark lead the women's 470 class after the opening day.
The pair recovered from a penalty turn to finish race one in sixth, before getting a bullet later in the afternoon.
Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell maintain their lead of the men's 470 fleet with a fourth and second today, while Ali Young sits fifth in the overall Laser Radial standings after a sixth and eighth.
Belgium's Evi van Acker leads overall after an eighth and first today, although her rivals are close behind.
Eyes on the prize: The pair have been in exceptional form so far in Weymouth
Great Britain's reigning Laser gold medallist Paul Goodison endured a tough day, with an 18th and 12th leaving him eighth overall.
Things also started badly for Australia's Laser fleet leader Tom Slingsby, but he recovered from a 15th in the first race to get a bullet.
The Antipodeans are also leading the 49er fleet, with Australia's Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen nine points clear of New Zealand duo Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
Great Britain's Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes sit fourth in the standings after posting a 17th, fourth and 20th today. The latter is discarded as it is their worst of the regatta so far.
