Paris 2024 Olympics: Nia Jerwood, Conor Nicholas in medal chase, Matt Wearn retains lead

They are besties from way back and while without a big win in an international regatta together this crew of Aussie battlers could be in with a show of a surprise medal in Marseille.

Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas at the Olympics. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Besties Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas are just a good day away from cracking the top three on the 470 mixed dingy leaderboard after racing to their first top three at the Paris Olympics.

The “ying and yang” of sailing according to skipper Jerwood, the pair have been sailing against and with each others since they were pre-teens.

“I first met Conor as an Optimist sailor when we were about 11 or 12 and faced off against each other. But I used to beat him,’’ Jerwood laughed.

The pair moved into sixth pace in the mixed 470 fleet on Sunday in Marseille with a third in their opener before a 16th pushed them back into eighth place overall.

But with some topsy turvy results across the fleet and two good days of racing ahead, the pair still have plenty of opportunity to be pressing for a medal mid this week.

Connor Nicholas, with skipper Nia Jerwood behind, in the 470 mixed dinghy racing.

“Definitely think it’s promising. We have four races to go so it’s really only halfway through,’’ Jerwood said,

“I think it will come down to who can keep their heads and keep pushing.

“It is so easy in the Olympics to start over thinking it.’’

KITES TAKE TO THE SKIES OVER MARSEILLE

After a long wait, Breiana Whithead finally launched her Olympic campaign on a day of light winds and long delays,.

Whitehead is the last Australian to start sailing and is competing in the new women’s kite class.

The Queenslander posted a 12th place in her first race and then backed up with a fifth, seventh and sixth to be in a respectable eighth place overall.

“It was just good to finally get out there,’’ Whitehaead said.

“Pretty good day really but plenty to improve on.”

The pair are great mates who joined forces after the Tokyo Games.

YOUNG GUNS BATTLE ON IN FOILING NACRA

Young Nacra sailors Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown were delivered the roughest and toughest conditions of the day late in the late afternoon.

The pair added a 12th and a seventh to their scorecard in the challenging conditions to be 12th overall.

Matt Wearn pre-race on the bay. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

OLYMPIC CHAMPION IN BOX SEAT

Matt Wearn has been the most consistent in an inconsistent fleet in inconsistent weather to retain his lead in the ILCA 7 class with just a day of qualifying series racing to sail.

After a long day on the water involving multiple recalls and course resets, Wearn was finally able to race.

The Laser champion from the Tokyo Olympics posted two 10th placings.

The medal race for the ILCA 7 top 10 in on Tuesday in Marseille.

ILCA 6 sailor Zoe Thomson fell to 20th overall after a 19th and 35th result.