SAILING: Australia has been forced to wait another day to secure more silverware for sailing with a lack of wind delaying the final 470 race.

Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan were ready to take to the water but with racing progressively delayed over the afternoon the regatta looked more and more unlikely to take place.

At 3.50pm officials announced that the 470 medal race would not be contested on Wednesday, but has been rescheduled to Thursday.

Belcher and Ryan finished their preliminary 10-race series with 40 points, 13 points off competition leader Croatia and just two points off Greece who is in position for silver. The Aussies are guaranteed at least bronze.

Team leader Peter Conde the delay is part of the sport.

"It's the reason why they have a scheduled reserve day before the medal race and after the medal race in this environment," Conde explained.

"You have to be good at waiting in sailing. Our guys will take it in their stride."

Australia has enjoyed a successful start to sailing in Rio with a gold medal for Tom Burton in the men’s laser race and cousins and Olympic debutants Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse winning silver in the Nacra 17.

The men’s 470 final will be raced on Thursday August 18 after 2pm (3am Friday August 19 AEST).