Auckland sailors Jo Aleh and Molly Meech made a dramatic turnaround on day three of the Paris Olympic sailing competition, rising 12 places up the leaderboard in the women's skiff (49erFX) class.
The pair delivered a series of strong performances, including their first race win, to climb from the bottom of the rankings to seventh place.
Wednesday's breezy conditions, with winds reaching 20 knots, provided a stark contrast to the light winds of the previous days.
Aleh and Meech showcased their tactical skills and speed, securing finishes of 3rd, 2nd, and 1st in their three races.
They are now just 15 points behind the third-placed Swedish team, Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler, with three races left before the double-points medal race.
Aleh, a double Olympic medallist, acknowledged the challenging days they had faced.
"It’s been tough, but we love sailing. Even on bad days, you have to find the positives," she said.
Meech added that their first win of the campaign felt "pretty special".
In contrast, men’s skiff crew Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie had a tough day, falling from first to third overall after scores of 11th, 18th, and 17th. They are now 15 points behind the leaders.
In men's windsurfing, Josh Armit became the first Kiwi to win an Olympic iQFOiL race but slipped to 10th overall after a disqualification.
Veerle ten Have also had mixed results in the women's windsurfing event, showing glimpses of her potential despite some challenges.
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