Sporting Life - Summer Olympics - Beijing 2008

Ben Ainslie and Britain's Yngling team have been forced to halt their medal pursuits as inclement weather conditions forced organisers to postpone all of Thursday's sailing events.

Defending Olympic champion Ainslee is leading the Finn class as he seeks a third successive gold medal, extending a narrow six-point advantage over the USA's Zach Railey on Wednesday.

However, thunder and lightning have joined heavy rain in forcing a postponement of proceedings, seeing organisers put all sailing and rowing events back to Friday.

The news also causes a delay for the British Yngling team's bid for gold, with two-time world champions Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson now having to race on their postponed day-off.

Seven out of 10 races in each category have been held, but light breezes on Wednesday had already caused a time delay leading up to the beginning of Saturday's medal races.

Britain have been impressive in both disciplines, with eight finalists in rowing already doubling the total number of athletes that reached the same stage in Athens four years ago.