Yachting: Aussies lead women's match racing field

Three skippers are on four wins after a wild and windy day at the national women's match racing yachting championships in Auckland today.

This event has attracted a formidable fleet, including a brace of top Australian skippers in world champion Nicky Souter and rival Katie Pellew (nee Spithill).

The pair, along with New Zealand Samantha Osborne, lead the standings after day one, with four wins from four races.

Testing conditions initially delayed racing, and although four flights were completed after a 10am start, with winds gusting well over 20 knots and the sea-state proving difficult, racing was abandoned for the day.

Finnish sailor Silja Lehtinen is fourth with three wins and one loss, the same record as New Zealand Olympic squad member Stephanie Hazard.

Standings: Nicky Souter (Aust) 4 wins 1, Katie Pellew (Aust) 4 2, Sam Osborne (NZ) 4 3, Silja Lehtinen (Finland) 3 4, Stephanie Hazard (NZ) 3 5, Danielle Bowater (NZ) 1 6.