John Ruf from the United States is the new leader of the 1-Person Keelboat (2.4mR) competition on Thursday afternoon following what sailors described as a "frustratingly light and shifty day."

Racing has been close since Day 1 in this extremely talented field and Thursday was no different, despite racing not starting until 3:30 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) in shifty 4-5 knot winds that dropped out towards the end of the day, turning the race into a drifter.

Jens Andersen (Denmark) led Thierry Schmitter (Netherlands), Heiko Kroger (Germany) and Bjornar Erikstad (Norwat) at the first mark of the course, but it was Erikstad who led at the next mark with Helena Lucas (Great Britain), the only female sailor in the fleet, following closely.

In the dying winds, Schmitter came good to take out the race, Erikstad was next, followed by Kroger, Lucas and China's Qi Mingxue.

The leader until yesterday, Paul Tingley (Canada), could not do a thing right today and finished ninth to lose his overall lead to Ruf.

For new leader Ruf, a seventh in Race 6 has given him a one-point advantage over the next three placegetters, Tingley, Schmitter and Kroger, who are all on an equal 18 points.

"The breeze totally collapsed at the end. Thierry was better at no wind. In such circumstances, you have to be patient and sail gently. Being in the lead tells me my training has paid off," Ruf said.

Damien Seguin (France) who was in fourth place overall yesterday, dropped out of the placings following his OCS in Race 6 today -- a costly mistake.

Racing will start early at 12:00 tomorrow as officials try to catch up the missed two scheduled races from today.

(BOCOG September 12, 2008)