Tauranga sailors in Rio are positioning themselves well for their competitions' closing races.

The Nacra 17 crew of Jason Saunders and Gemma Jones had four single-digit result on the second day of the mixed crew multi-hull regatta placing 7,5,4,2 taking them to fourth overall in standings.

Nacra 17 crew Gema Jones and Jason Saunders. Photo: Yachting New Zealand/Roberto Vuilleumier.

'It was good, we were very relieved to come away with some solid results,” says Gemma.

'It was four races in crazy winds, so it was a key day to just keep it together and we're happy with how we finished it.”

The 20-boat Nacra fleet sailed on the Ponte course inside the bay and up the harbour where conditions were different than outside in the big swells.

'The shifts were really big so it made for some pretty frustrating racing at times but there were plenty of opportunities out there, so it was good that we were able to stay confident and we made some good decisions,” says Jason.

Sam Meech in the Laser has a rest day. His sister Molly and her partner Alex Maloney begin the women's 49er campaign tomorrow, as does Tauranga sailor Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in the men's 49er skiffs.

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have taken back their lead by discarding the 21 point penalty given yesterday, after taking a fourth place and a win.

Sailing on the outer Niteroi course, the women's fleet encountered big swells and wild conditions.

'It was a crazy day out there – the biggest contrast you could find from yesterday,” says Jo.

'Today the waves were as big as we can handle. It was pretty on edge for us even in the 470 – it was awesome sailing. We were getting airborne a few times and the boat does not land well.

'Today wasn't too much about boat speed, it was just about hanging in there and not making too many mistakes - and keeping Polly on the wire.”

They bumped overnight leaders Japan from the top spot, but only by two points, as the Japanese also sailed well. Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark of the British Sailing Team are in 3rd place, three points adrift of 2nd.

The women's 470 will sail two more races tomorrow ahead of a rest day. Gemma and Jason will be back on the water on Saturday for three more races.

In the men's 470, Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox didn't have the day they would have hoped for with a 20th and a 15th from their two races sailed in the survival conditions. After today they lie 11th overall and will be back on the water again tomorrow for two more races.

Finn sailor Josh Junior is clawing his way up the placings with a fifth and a third, allowing him to improve his rank to 15^th overall.

'I finally found the front today – far out!” says Josh.

'It was a really breezy day with bag waves out there. I managed to change a few things and finally got my boat going a bit faster and sailed a lot better, so I'm stoked.

'I'm just trying to get as much up the fleet as possible, race as many good races as possible and see what happens from there.”

NZL Sailing Team current standings

1stJo Aleh and Polly Powrie (Women's 470) (21DSQ, 1, 4, 1)

11thPaul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (Men's 470) (2, 10, 20, 15)

7thSam Meech (Laser) (19, 3, 5, 6, 14, 17)

4thGemma Jones and Jason Saunders (Nacra 17) (9, 15, 7, 5, 4, 2)

15thJosh Junior (Finn) (18, 24UFD, 14, 14, 5, 3)

Full results are available on the Rio 2016 website.

Tomorrow's schedule;

The men's and women's 49er events are underway. Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie races again, as does Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox. The Laser fleet, including kiwi Sam Meech, return for more racing after a rest day.

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX – Races 1, 2 & 3

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 49er – Races 1, 2, & 3

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – W470 – Races 5 & 6

Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox – M470 – Races 5 & 6

Sam Meech – Laser – Races 7 & 8

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 – Reserve day

Josh Junior – Finn – Reserve day

In total, 380 sailors from 66 nations will race in 274 boats across ten Olympic Events across seven racing areas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.