Yachting: Slater strikes early in Finn class

Dan Slater. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

New Zealand's Dan Slater made the best possible start when the Sail for Gold yachting regatta began in England.

He won the opening race in the Finn class overnight off Weymouth, the best result posted by a 30-strong New Zealand contingent at a venue being used for next year's Olympic Games.

Light winds made for a long day for the sailors and only once race was possible in many classes.

"The race went well today and that was all down to getting a good start," Slater said after pushing Briton Ben Ainslie into second place.

"I started at the pin end which was significantly biased, and allowed the first three placegetters in the race to effectively `port tack' the fleet."

Slater then pulled alongside the leader Ainslie on the downwind which forced the two to different gates. "The gate I rounded appeared to be favoured which gave me margin for the last upwind, and I retained that to the finish."

Andy Maloney made the best start of the New Zealand Laser competitors, a third placing on the water leaving him in a share of fifth overall among a large fleet of 123 entries split into three for racing purposes.

Mike Bullot was sixth in his race, Andrew Murdoch 13th, Sam Meech 14th and Josh Junior 27th.

Olympic champion Tom Ashley posted third and second results to sit fourth overall, one place ahead of teammate Jon-Paul Tobin, who finished sixth and second.

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie made a decent start in the women's 470 event, sitting seventh overall after finishing ninth and 12th in a 45-strong fleet led by 2009 Dutch world champions Lisa Westerhof and Lobke Berkhout.

- NZPA