SAILING - Splash and dash as Lutze changes tack for Lasers

You could say Taipa's Ben Lutze is keen to rock the boat - to make an impression in the sport of sailing.
At 17, he is among the youngest of all the recipients of the Northland Sailor of the Year award but it seems unlikely to be the last time he is considered for the award.
Lutze was pleased as punch to be presented with the award on Wednesday from Northland Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth.
He was awarded the trophy - to a great extent - for reaching the pinnacle of international Splash sailing by being crowned the world champion in Portugal last year.
The win means a step up into the world of Laser sailing, with Lutze beginning to race in the Laser Radial Class at the end of last year.
"There's a lot more opportunity for me now in the Laser Class ... and I hope to make it all the way to the Olympics at some stage," he said.
The first regatta he attended in the Laser Radial Class was at the North Island Championships in December in Taupo, where he got a promising start, finishing first in the youth class and fourth overall.
At this year's Laser Nationals in New Plymouth, he was sixth overall and fourth in the youth class and he said it just goes to show what dedication to practise can achieve.
"I've still got to get used to the boat a bit more, I've only been sailing it for about five months since I got back from Portugal.
"It's got a lot more power than I'm used to - there's a longer hull so it feels different going through the water and the angles going up wind take some getting used to," he said.
Training for next year's nationals in Timaru is his plan for the rest of the year now that he realises just how much he has to learn.
"There are the Youth World Championships next year in England and I'll be looking to stand out to the selectors for that," he said.
He put his success sailing down to the amount of time he spends on the water practicing.
"When I'm training for an event I'll go down the road to the yacht club (for a sail) about five times a week," he said.