LYMINGTON'S Ben Ainslie finished second in race eight of the Finn class to secure at least a silver medal at the Olympic sailing regatta today.

Light shifting winds off Qingdao saw the competition delayed for nearly four hours before racing finally got under way.

Reigning champion Ainslie took the early lead and was 30 seconds ahead at the second mark but was caught on the second windward leg and had to settle for second, eight seconds behind the winning Spanish boat.

However, poor results for Zach Railey of the United States, who was 19th and Guillaume Florent of France, who finished 21st saw the Briton secure at least a silver, ensuring that he will surpass Rodney Pattison as Britain's most successful Olympic sailor with a fourth medal tomorrow.

Ainslie leads the standings with 21 points, 12 ahead of Railey, and would clinch a gold medal for the third consecutive Games if he finishes no more than six places behind the American in tomorrow's medal race.

See tomorrow's Echo for all the latest news on the local Olympians.