Calm waters cannot dampen spirits as Team GB's Emma Wilson sets up her shot at Olympic windsurfing gold

For the holiday-makers on the coved beaches of Marseille, the scorching sunshine and delicate breeze were perfect for an afternoon of dreamy sunbathing.

For the sailors and surfers chasing their Olympic dream, the weather conditions were more like a nightmare as races stopped and started down on the south coast.

The lack of wind resulted in multiple events being postponed, with Princess Anne's golf buggy often moving faster than anything else in sight of the marina.

However, after five hours out on the lagoon-like Mediterranean waters, Team GB's Emma Wilson was towed back to land knowing that she is guaranteed a medal.

Leading the windsurfing pack by a staggering 31 points, the 25-year-old guaranteed her place in Friday's weather-permitting three-way shootout for gold. Wilson claimed bronze in Tokyo but here she has established herself as favourite for the top prize.

'It's really cool to be guaranteed a medal,' she said. 'When we did the last race, my coach told me that even if we do three more then I'm in the final. It's weird knowing that out on the water. It's nice because it's just me and my coach and we've done so much work. To perform how I have this week, at the Olympics, it's pretty cool.'

Her rivals must qualify for the final through a shootout, meaning Wilson should be fresher and sharper. In the men's competition, Britain's Sam Sills raced his way into the quarter-finals, having began the day near the back of the pack.

'I'm so happy,' said Sills. 'I started the day in almost last position and just had to fight my way back to the top 10. Now it's all on.

'We were out there for six or seven hours. You just try to save your energy. I meditate to stay calm. You refuel yourselves, grab an umbrella to get in the shade.'

'You really felt the pressure. You felt people crumbling, making big mistakes. I managed to keep my claws in and hang on. I believe in my prep. I've been here over 100 days. I love these moments.

'The hard bit is navigating the series. Now this is the cherry on top. I'll remember this moment for the rest of my life. Olympic finals. It's quite emotional. Anything can happen.'

In the men's skiff, Britain's James Peters and Fynn Sterritt's medal race was postponed due to the lack of wind. The pair are down in seventh but remain in contention for a medal in the double-points final.

'It was a fickle wind,' said Sterritt. 'We had a good wind forecast. We thought it was going to be on so we were fully expecting to get it done and finished. The wind was just retreating across the bay so we got two races away and neither of them were able to finish. A long day but no racing! We still believe we can medal, crazier things have happened.'