It's been far from smooth sailing for the Olympic champions on finals day at the 49er sailing world championships in Auckland

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have suffered a mechanical issue, believed to be a broken tillar extension, forcing them to repair on the fly, with further to be done before this afternoon's final fleet race and the subsequent double points medal race.

However as "worst results" are rubbed, they remain top of the standings, with their buffer cut to 10 points.

France's Lucas Rual and Emile Amoros have won the race, with Burling and Tuke's main rivals, Germany's Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel ninth.

Logan Dunning-Beck and Oscar Gunn have finished the best of the Kiwis in 12th.