Bruce breezes into top 3 in Brisbane

Russell's Bruce Trotter recorded two first places in his four races on day two of the raceboard world championships in Brisbane on Tuesday. Photo / David Bell

A breakout performance from Bruce Trotter on the second day of the raceboard world championships in Brisbane has lifted the veteran Russell competitor into third overall on the standings.

Sailing in the second day of the event which took place in moderate to fresh winds of 12-17 knots at Morton Bay by Brisbane Airport, Trotter came out firing, recording a second, a fourth and two firsts to consolidate a top three position on the leaderboard.

He was over the moon afterwards, noting this was the first time he'd ever won a race, never mind two, in the 10 world championships he's contested.

"I have never won a race at a world championships, had a handful of seconds and thirds, now I've done it twice!" he said, referring to his nine previous world championship campaigns from the years 1985-96, and adding of Tuesday's double.

"The mighty Taniwha was with me!"

He is also at the top of the grandmaster lightweight class leaderboard. Despite a respectable effort on Monday which left him sitting fifth on the standings, Trotter (NZL4) admitted to feeling a "little frustrated" on his opening day performance.

"Felt like I hadn't quite done my bit. Being in fifth felt like I could have done a little better.

Probably didn't settle in very quickly. Felt like I didn't perform well," he said. He clearly managed to emerge from the other side of a "a bit of a mental battle" on Tuesday.

"Today, it just went a bit smoother. I felt I sailed very well. They [the two firsts] weren't flukes. The young guys have sheer brute force, so you have to be tactical."

The event reached the halfway point with seven of scheduled 15 races completed (three on Monday, four on Tuesday). Yesterday's racing was completed after this edition's deadline but Trotter told the Age on Tuesday night he was expecting light conditions.

"[Which] makes me a little nervous," he admitted. With the progress of the top raceboarders followed via live tracking on the event website, Trotter's family, friends and Russell Boating Club colleagues have been closely monitoring his progress back home in the Far North.

Trotter is part of sizeable New Zealand contingent in the event, with the handful of ex-pats living across the ditch quickly joining forces with the seven who travelled over.

The other Kiwi featuring in the top 10 is Antonio Cozzolino (NZL1) from Wellington sitting in fourth spot. Only two Australians could be found in the top 10, at eighth and 10th.

Trotter said the Tuesday results had given him the right edge with which to approach the remaining three days of competition.

"I am excited and nervous ... in just the right amounts. Fingers crossed ... I'm back on board!"

- The Slake Raceboard World Championships Australia are being hosted by the Royal QLD Yacht Squadron in Manly Brisbane from November 20-25. The event is being contested by a fleet of 85 competitors from 13 countries.