Yachting: Gold for NZ youth in Brazil

Despite having another day of competition to go at the youth sailing world championships in Brazil, New Zealand sailor Sam Meech has secured a gold medal in the boys' Laser Radial class.

Following an already impressive run at the competition, Meech returned two race wins and a second place on the water today, giving him an insurmountable margin over his opponents.

The result means the Tauranga sailor has secured the gold medal without having to sail the final race planned for tomorrow.

"Sam had devastating speed all day," Yachting New Zealand youth development manager Marty Watson said.

"He was able to keep his nose clean by starting conservatively and sailing smart."

Meanwhile, sailing in the girls' 420 double-handed class, Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher also secured two race wins and a second place today.

The results improved their overall standing by 10 places, taking them from 15th to fifth place in the fleet of 24.

In the girls' Laser Radial class, Rachel Basevi also jumped 10 places on the leader board , now sitting in eighth place, while Ben Goodwin and Logan Dunning-Beck climbed from 15th to ninth place in the boy's 420 double-handed fleet.

Hobie 16 multihull pair Marcus Hansen and James Turner are lying in eighth, and windsurfers Ben Mackay and Lucy Driver are lying 10th and ninth in their respective fleets.

New Zealand sit behind France, Great Britain, Italy and Brazil in fifth place for overall best team performance at the championships.

- NZPA