Olympian Chris Grube and sailing partner Luke Patience insisted they are saving their big risks for later in the regatta after being confronted by 'waves the size of houses' as they moved up to sixth overall in the 470 men’s class in Rio yesterday (Thursday, August 11).

The 470s moved outside Guanabara Bay onto the Niteroi ocean course and were rewarded with a booming 20+ knots of breeze and huge swell that saw Patience and Grube pick up fifth and sixth place finishes to edge towards the medal positions.

Despite posting a currently discarded 21st in their opening race of the event yesterday, the pair were happy with how they sailed and were committed to replicating that form today. And that methodical approach paid dividends as the top end of the fleet begins to take shape.

Grube, from Mickle Trafford , said: “It was great fun out there, the kind of conditions we really enjoy. In the past when we’ve sailed together we’ve done well when the breeze is up, it’s all thrills and spills.”

Luke added: “The waves were the size of houses! The type when you’re in the trough and you cannot see another boat’s tip of the mast. But we had a good day.

“We brought the same approach as we did for yesterday; nothing too heroic but not too passive either, just somewhere in the middle, and wait for the bigger risk taking moment later in the regatta.

“Don’t lose the regatta on day one or two, you can’t win it but don’t lose it. That is the thing rolling now, the flow of the regatta has started, so it was a good day in the office.”

Double world champions Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic of Croatia lead the class with four points, with Australia’s three-time world champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan in second and Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis of Greece, bronze medallists at both the 2013 and 2014 Worlds, moving into third overall.

Racing is scheduled to resume for the 470 men at 5pm (BST) today. The 470 men’s class is scheduled to contest an 11 race series, with two races per day on August 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 before the final one-off medal race on Wednesday, August 17.