America's Cup hero Peter Burling has leapt up the leaderboard after today's racing in the gold fleet class of the Moth world championships on Lake Garda, Italy.
Burling sat fourth after day one but is now trailing only British sailor Peter Goodison after four races in light to moderate breezes.
In his first competitive outing since helping steer Team NZ to America's Cup glory in Bermuda a month ago, Burling has steadily worked his way into medal contention after finishing 15th in qualifying.
Consistent wind shifts and an over-eager fleet led to a string of disqualifications, restarts, postponements and one race cancellation when the breeze collapsed at the top end of the course.
Burling opened with a couple of wins, took fourth in the third race of the day then finished second behind defending champion Goodison in the fourth and final race.
