Tim Patton is in 41st place out of 61 boats after five races at the World Etchells Championships off the coast of Fremantle, Western Australia.

Sailing with Mark Thomas and Simon Wilder, Patton placed 41st, 26th, 37th, 26th and 46th among a fleet of boats regarded as one of the strongest ever assembled in the history of the World Championships.

The local Etchells veteran now has two races left to retain or improve upon his current position, which would eclipse his 43rd place last year in San Francisco and his 44th place in 2002 at Gulf Harbour, New Zealand.