Chinese sailors are steadily improving their performances at the ongoing Qingdao International Regatta while defending champions have made their marks on Day three.

Although postponed due to a weak wind, the races scheduled for Wednesday saw Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher of Austria and Ben Ainslie of Great Britain claim victory in outstanding style, marking themselves out as the sailors to beat.

The Finn fleet took to the water in the afternoon. China's Li Hongquan inspired much happiness among the home fans in race one, as he was the third sailor to anchor home. However, he finished 11th in race two, winding up the day's races at 5th overall. Li's teammate Zhang Peng is now 13th while Gong Lei stands at 17th.

Reigning Olympic champion and four-time Finn Gold Cup winner Ben Ainslie of Great Britain was the day's center of attention as he made his long awaited return to the class. He rounded the top mark of the opening race with a sizeable lead over long time rival Emilios Papathanasious of Greece, who took race two to stand atop overall.

Also, Double Olympic Champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher of Austria blew away the rest of the Tornado fleet on Wednesday, posting two bullets to move into an eight point lead overall.

In the Laser event, China's Chi Qiang burst out to finish third in race five and improved his overall standings to 32. Teammate Li Xiaojing, meanwhile, climbed to 25th.

And in the women's Laser Radial, Xu Lijia came home sixth in race four to improve her standings to 10th overall. Aleh Jo from New Zealand tops the fleet with a fragile one-point lead over her nearest opponent.

Beyond these, Chinese sailors failed to make any other impressions in other events of Wednesday's races.

(CRI August 24, 2006)