Dutch sailors are leading the rankings in the 49er and 49er FX events ©Getty Images

Dutch sailors have put themselves in pole position to qualify in the top three of the 49er and 49er FX at the World Championships while Olympic champions Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti have the advantage in the Nacra 17 event in Nova Scotia.

Odile van Aanholt, the 2021 world champion, and Annette Duetz, an Olympic bronze medallist and two-time world title winner, are first in the 49er FX category following four races.

Spain's Támara Echegoyen and Paula Barceló sit in second place in Canada, below their Dutch rivals.

Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler, representing Sweden, complete the top three at this stage of the competition.

Meanwhile, Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken, who paired to win the 2021 49er world title, hold all the cards for The Netherlands after four races in their specialist discipline.

Olympic champions Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti have performed the best after five races in the Nacra 17 competition ©Getty Images
Olympic champions Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti have performed the best after five races in the Nacra 17 competition ©Getty Images 

Croatia's Šime Fantela and Mihovil Fantela are hot on their tails in second while Diego Botín and Florian Trittel Paul of Spain sit third.

Following five races in the Nacra 17 competition, Italy's Tita and Banti are showing they are perfectly in-form as they look to close out the qualifying stage tomorrow.

Compatriots Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei are ranked second and Finnish couple Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen are positioned third.

Racing is scheduled to continue daily until September 5.