Thunderous clouds loomed overhead, but Great Britain's rowers enjoyed a bright day on the Shunyi lake, raising hopes that the women's quad and lightweight men may win gold in China for the first time in the squad's history. The women cruised into Sunday's final, inflicting defeat on Germany, with a commanding performance - albeit in a time two seconds slower than China in the other heat.

The crew of Katherine Grainger, Annie Vernon, Debbie Flood and Frances Houghton have recorded a hat-trick of World Championship wins since the 2004 Athens Olympics, but they are left in no doubt that the home side will be a big threat. “We're looking forward to getting alongside the Chinese in the final,” Flood said. “That will push us even more.”

Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter, the lightweight double scullers, were not only victorious yesterday, but were the fastest qualifiers for the semi-finals. Unbeaten this year, they led from the start and beat Greece by a length.

The lightweight men's four qualified for their semi-final with a second-place finish behind China. Richard Chambers, James Clarke, Paul Mattick and James Lyndsey-Finn had endured a difficult season, so were pleased to finish only half a length behind the favourites.

“I think we might have had some doubters before, so it was really good to go out there and show we are on form. We knew we had the speed,” Clarke said. “It gives us a lot of confidence. We were so far ahead of the Dutch, who beat us [at the World Cup] in Poznan and we beat the Australians, who have given us a lot of trouble over the years. It was a case of ticking off the crews and saying, 'This is where we are, we are right at the top.' ”

Helen Casey and Hester Goodsell finished third in the women's lightweight double sculls, behind Germany and Canada, so must go into a repechage tomorrow.

Racing was halted because of an approaching thunderstorm, leaving the Britain men's and women's eights to wait until this morning for their heats.