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Lee rides crest of the wave as gold beckons

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Boardsailor Lee Lai-shan has set sail for Hong Kong's first Olympic medal, extending her lead in the Mistrel event with a second placing in race seven of the 11-leg series.

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The 25-year-old Lee moved a commanding six points ahead of Barbara Kendall, New Zealand's defending Olympic champion, with Norwegian Jorunn Horgen, winner of the race, two points back in third. Kendall crossed the line fifth.

Race eight was to be sailed later in the morning after the weather again played havoc with the regatta's schedule. Instead of a thunderstorm there was hardly any wind on Savannah's bay to fill a sail.

Except for the elements, Lee could have already won the Olympic medal that has eluded the territory's athletes since they first took up the laurel wreath at Helsinki in 1952.

Savage rains yesterday swept away all prospect of race six after Lee snatched the overall lead with a fourth-placed finish in the previous round.

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There was to be no early celebration in Hong Kong. As the wind dropped, the men's opening race was delayed, started, recalled and started again.

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