British sailors Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell claim the postponement of their gold medal showdown with Australian leaders Malcolm Page and Mat Belcher could work in their favour.

Page and Belcher were forced to wait another day to battle it out with the Brits for the 470 dinghy gold medal when light winds on Weymouth Bay caused the race to be put back from Thursday to Friday.

"I think it puts the ball in our court a little bit if we wait a bit longer," Patience said.

"As we said the whole time, we have no pressure. It is win-win and I imagine if the Aussies are feeling anything, it is more discomfort than we are."

But that was hardly the case, according to Australian sailing team staff, who said Page and Belcher relaxed and spent the day watching the Olympic BMX racing on TV.

"They were very seriously studying the weather and the BMX racing on TV and we just left them there watching the women's basketball," team meteorologist Bruce Buckley told AAP.

Buckley said he was "99.9 per cent" sure conditions would allow the race to take place on Friday.

Sailing team boss Peter Conde said Page and Belcher had faced race postponements many times before.

"I guess they're ready for anything," he added.

"I don't think it fazes them one bit."

Page and Belcher hold a slender four-point lead over Patience and Bithell going into the race.

The Britons would have to finish two boats ahead of the Australians to snatch the gold medal.

The result of the race also has extra importance.

If Australia wins the 470 gold they should top the sailing medal table.

With Tom Slingsby having won gold in the Laser class and Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen winning the 49er class, a third gold medal would also be Australia's best-ever performance at an Olympic sailing regatta.

Miles Godfrey
AAP