Yachting: Leader's confidence sky high

If Netherlands sailor Bart Lambriex's confidence levels are an indication, expect him to be on the podium when the world optimist championships end in Napier next week.

"I'm the best whatever the conditions. Yes I'm confident I can maintain my lead in the regatta,'' Lambriex said after a successful second day in the champs yesterday.

The 13-year-old started the day in fourth equal place but two firsts, an eighth and an 11th placing saw him secure first place in the 210-sailor regatta and a nine-point lead over Wade Waddell of the United States.

"Good starts were the key. Once I had those I could go for it and sail at a good speed in a good place,'' Lambriex explained.

With seven years sailing experience in his log books Lambriex isn't short on knowledge. He is competing in his second world championships and finished 15th in Malaysia last year.

Lambriex doesn't need to go far for quality advice either. His father Huub is a former Catamaran class and Tornado class competitor who represented Netherlands in the later class at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where he finished 11th despite two disqualifications.

"Sometimes I go to Dad for tips but Pim is my main coach,'' Lambriex said referring to Netherlands team coach Pim Stumpel.

His Netherlands teammate Philip Meijer will start today's sixth race in third place, nine points behind Waddell.

Auckland's Leonard Takahashi-Fry is the best of the Kiwis in sixth place, an improvement of 17 places on his overall placing after day one. The former national ballroom dancing champion recorded first, third, 13th and 26th placings yesterday.

Waikato's Isaac McHardie is the next best of the Kiwis in 25th and Aucklanders Markus Somerville and William McKenzie are 37th and 69th respectively and Taipa's Nathaniel Deverell 90th.

Chairman of the 15-race regatta's organising committee Peter Dawson was thrilled to get four races in yesterday and catch up after light winds forced an early end to day one.

Racing began in a six-knot breeze and later in the day winds reached 20 knots. It was a long day for the competitors who left the harbour at 9.30am and didn't return until 5pm.

Three races were scheduled for today in wind speeds expected to be around 12knots.

- Hawke's Bay Today