The Olympic rowing regatta in Rio faces more delays after Wednesday’s session was postponed, with rain and winds lashing the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.

The first of the rowing finals, the women’s quadruple sculls and the men’s quadruple sculls, had been due to be contested on Wednesday.

Ireland’s double sculls partners of Sinead Lynch and Claire Lambe were due to take to the water for their semi-final while Gary and Paul O’Donovan were set to compete in the men’s equivalent shortly after.

The competition has been dogged by bad weather. After day two of the regatta was called off due to high winds capsizing two boats before the start, Sir Steve Redgrave raised the possibility of a doomsday scenario that echoed the Athens Olympics of 1896, when the whole rowing programme was cancelled.

However, Matt Smith, the executive director of world rowing’s governing body, Fisa, insisted they had “tricks up their sleeve” which he hoped would see them catch up with the race schedule.

He added: “We could even have two rounds on the same day and, with nine days, including Sunday morning, we are confident we are ready for nearly anything the weather can throw at us.”

The two Irish crews must finish in the top three of their semi-finals to secure a place in the A final.

A revised schedule for Thursday will follow.