SAILING - Teenager riding high after testing seasoned rivals

TUTUKAKA South Pacific Yacht Club sailor Travis Dow has beaten some high-class opposition to finish in fifth place at the Laser Radial pre-world championships at Takapuna over the weekend.
The 16-year-old was one of the youngest sailors in the fleet but overcame his inexperience to dominate the event early on.
Dow was pipped on the line in the first race, after leading the fleet around the course, to finish second.
He then won the second race of the five race series to lead on points before a 15th, an eighth and a 27th in the final three races in shifty conditions on Sunday saw him slide down the rankings.
There were 48 sailors in the fleet, including international sailors who are in New Zealand to compete in the Laser Radial World Championships starting at Takapuna on March 23.
The result has given Dow confidence going into the event after moving up from the Laser 4.7 class, the Laser youth class, that he represented New Zealand in at the World Championships in January.
Whangarei Cruising Club's Tom Baker was the next best Northland sailor in 14th place, while Onerahi Yacht Club's Kane Jacobsen was 21st.
Whangarei's Joseph Wright was 35th and Spencer Loxton was 44th.