Boardsailing: Keeping an eye on in-form Australian

By Suzanne McFadden

A year out from the Olympics, New Zealand's world champion boardsailors are having to follow in the wake of - horror of horrors - an Australian.

Lars Kleppich is the Kiwis' bogeyman - a foreign exchange trader who has given up his pinstripe suit for a wetsuit, coming out of retirement in the pursuit of Olympic gold on his home harbour.

Kleppich is on fire - winning the big titles around the world this year, especially those fought out on the Olympic course in Sydney, where he grew up.

He has to be hot favourite to win the pre-Olympic regatta which begins from Rushcutters Bay today.

But New Zealand's stars, like world champions Aaron McIntosh and Bruce Kendall, are quite happy for Kleppich to have his day in the sun now.

In fact, New Zealand coach Grant Beck says the Australian, a bronze medallist at the 1992 Olympics, is doing his sailors a favour.

"For 18 months we've known that he would be a very significant player in these Olympics. So we're watching him," Beck said.

"We'd like to say thankyou very much Lars for showing us where we have to be in a year's time. He's showing us how to master the very tricky conditions on Sydney Harbour. All credit to the New Zealanders for coming over here and watching how he does it."

The Kiwis know that 32-year-old Kleppich, described in the boardsailing business as a "risk analyst", has to peak now for the Australian trials to win a place at next year's Olympics.

"You have to remember there's still a year to go," Beck said.

"Lars is lighter than our guys at the moment [he is 70kg], so he's beating them in light to moderate winds.

"Our guys will lose weight as they're closing in on the Olympics. We have to be careful not to get crook, especially in winter. Right now the name of the game is learning."

That is why New Zealand's top boardsailors have moved to live in Sydney.

Women's world champion Barbara Kendall, who won the Australasian championships last weekend, has a house across the Tasman where she can come and go over the next 12 months.

McIntosh, Bruce Kendall and Jon Paul Tobin have booked accommodation for various stints in Sydney leading up to the New Zealand Olympic trials at Auckland's Eastern Beach in March.

Only McIntosh, the reigning world champion, and Barbara Kendall will compete in the pre-Olympic boardsailing event - just like the Olympics, the regatta only allows one entry from each country.

New Zealand will have sailors in all but one of the 11 classes today - everything but the Star class.

Chris Dickson and Jeremy Stephenson are still trying to qualify New Zealand for the Tornado class, but have been given special entry into the pre-Olympics.

Former world champion Nik Burfoot will contest the Lasers, Abby Mason will race in the women's Europe dinghy, Ian Baker in the Finns.

In the double-handed classes, Dan Slater and Nathan Handley start in the new 49ers class, Nick Taylor and Reece Brailey in the 470 men, and Melinda Henshaw and Jenny Egnot in the 470 women.

Rod Davis, Don Cowie and Alan Smith - all coaches for the Prada America's Cup team - are a real medal hope in the Solings.