Tokyo Olympics 2020: Sailing Laser - 'Chaos and carnage' as Kiwi Sam Meech's struggle continues

New Zealand Laser sailor Sam Meech's disappointing start to the Tokyo Games has continued, with the 30-year-old finishing the day in 17th place overall through three of 10 races.

Meech managed an eighth place in race 3 - the second of the day - finishing 1:42 behind Sweden's Jesper Stalheim.

The 2016 bronze medallist in Rio, struggled in his maiden race yesterday and replicated his 19th place in the second race on Monday to finish 2.21 minutes behind Montenegro's Milivoj Dukic.

Germany's Philipp Buhl and Finland's Kaarle Tapper were second and third, respectively.

The first race was characterised by strong wind conditions, and the chaos and carnage was widely evident when the main group of boats attempted to round the six marks. Several boats in the 35-strong field crashed into the marks, with some flipping while satisfying penalty turns.

"It's carnage and chaos at the second race of the lasers in the first mark," said the television commentator.

Sam Meech avoids a huge pile up at the first mark. Photo / Sky Sport

Meech managed to avoid capsizing but while he gradually improved from 26th place at one stage, he struggled to keep pace with the leaders.

Following his eighth place in race 3, Meech was in 17th place overall with 27 points - 22 points adrift of leader Tapper.

With six races left before the medal race next Sunday Meech has time to make up ground but he faces a tough ask from here to repeat his Rio feats.

Sam Meech of Team New Zealand. Photo / Getty

Meech admitted before the Olympics that this event would be a venture into the unknown compared to Rio, given his lack of international competition since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While most of his rivals, especially the Europeans, have been able to continue in major regattas, Meech has mostly been working in New Zealand, as well as a pre-Olympics training bloc in Australia.