The European champions shone in difficult conditions in both of the day's races, winning the first after lapping several other boats.

"The wind was so up and down - at one stage we were tacking without moving the tiller," said Morrison.

Paul Campbell James and Mark Asquith are in 10th place.

The pair had a win and a second from their two races while defending champions Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks are down in 20th place.

The Yngling class struggled with the winds and many of the fleet struggled to stay upright in Cascais Bay.

The British boats helmed by Victoria Rawlinson and Sarah Ayton managed to survive the first race, crossing the finish line in second and third places respectively.

Shirley Robertson, Annie Lush and Lucy Macgregor's boat fought back from 33rd to finish 10th despite being broached violently in the first race after being caught by a gust which forced it over onto its side.

Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson finished 13th to extend their lead to 11 points over Robertson, Lush and Macgregor.

Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson had to take penalty turns at the race start but retained their third place in the overall Star class standings with a fourth-place finish.

In the 470 class, Athens silver medallists Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield were also in third place, with a 7,1 from their first day of racing at the championships.

Numerous boats on the Finn course capsized, including 2006 world bronze medallist Ed Wright.

But he recovered to take second place in the first race before posting a fifth in his second race of the day. He is fifth overall, just two points off of the podium positions.