YACHTING - Maloney almost has it in the bag

TWO seconds yesterday virtually assured Kerikeri sailor Andy Maloney of a win in the World Youth Laser Radial World Championships at Takapuna Beach, with two races still to be completed in the event today.
Given Maloney's form at this week's regatta, it is hard to see him being overtaken on the final day of racing.
He currently leads the series on 14 points after 10 of the scheduled 12 races, seven points clear of Englishman Martin Evans in second place.
Australia's Tom Burton improved from fifth place to third yesterday in the breezy conditions on the Hauraki Gulf, with winds gusting to 20 knots and a heavy swell running.
Maloney, the Northland Secondary Schools sportsman of the year for 2005 and 2006, has yet to finish lower than fourth in the 43-strong gold medal fleet in the regatta.
He has won four races, taken two seconds and two thirds, with a fourth place and an OCS (On Course Side _ an early start dismissal) both dropped from his score to have the world title within his grasp.
Ngunguru's Travis Dow is the next Northland sailor in the championship ratings. The young sailor in his first major regatta in the championships has recorded one second place and a fourth to be placed 17th overall going into the final day.
Whangarei sailors Kayne Jacobson and Spencer Loxton have had a good week on the water and also qualified in the gold medal fleet on Thursday. They hold down 24th and 35th place respectively.
Another Whangarei sailor Joseph Wright failed to make the cut for the gold fleet on Thursday and instead competed in the silver fleet yesterday.
Kerikeri's Rawiri Geddes also missed out on the gold fleet after bad luck on Thursday with a broken mast. His luck seemed to have turned yesterday when he led the fleet from start to finish, only to find out he had had an OCS.
New Zealand's Cushla Hume-Merry continued her battle for first place with Australia's Gabrielle King and regained first place on the leaderboard yesterday. She now leads her rival by six points with two races left to decide the title.
In the men's radial championship race Canadian Michael Leigh holds the lead ahead of American Brad Funk with Australian Simon Morgan just holding off the best Kiwi, James Sandall, for third place.
Whangarei's Tom Baker hasn't had the best week and is two-thirds of the way down in the fleet standings.