Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb remain on course to bank a second successive Olympic gold medal after an impressive start at the sailing regatta in Qingdao.

Ayton of Ashford and Webb, of Weybridge, racing in the Yngling class alongside Pippa Wilson, landed Athens Olympic gold four years ago at their debut Games.

And with just four races left in China Ayton and Webb led the overall standings, three points ahead of nearest rivals Holland.

Yesterday the British crew recorded a fourth and second placed finish but the Dutch trio of Many Mulder, Annemeike Bes and Merel Witteveen closed the gap in the race for gold with a first and fifth respectively.

Next closest are the Australians, a further 14 points behind, equal with the Americans.

Speaking during yesterday's rest day Ayton said: "It was tough out there and you really had to be patient. We are not thinking about the end result.

"It is all going to plan at the moment. We are sailing a low-risk regatta  and, unless we change our game plan, we will keep doing that."

The British boat has been solid but yet unspectacular in the tricky sailing conditions in Qingdao - recording second and third placed finishes on day one, with a fourth and seventh on day two.

Ayton is well aware the hardwork starts now for the Yngling trio and vowed to buckle down in a quest to land back-to-back gold medals.

"We did really well on Monday and we're hopeful we can keep it going. We knew we had a job to do and we got on and did that. It's really good to be here and we're just enjoying the whole experience at the moment.

"But we know the hard work starts now - the Dutch are a good crew and we'll need to keep working."

Those views were echoed by Webb who added: "We're an awesome team and we get on really well, and when we hit the water we've got a job to do and we get on and do that." 

"We're not thinking about the end result - we've just got to take each day as it comes,"  Webb explained, asked whether she's already thinking her second Olympic gold is in within reach.  

"We've got four races left in the fleet race, and then the medal race so we've got a long way to go.  We're sailing really well, we're sailing strong as a team and none of us can ask for anything more than that."