"We pretty much did everything right with all our teamwork and things with kites so we led out at the first mark and they couldn't get us," said the 40-year-old automation engineer from Havelock North.
"We ended up putting quite a bit of time on our boat here so it was quite good because it took the pressure off us at the finish," Pedersen said.
The Bay pair ended the day third overall after finishing sixth in race two in a field of 57 competitors from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Hong Kong.
"It's quite a coup for us and the club, I suppose," Pedersen said, revealing Graeme Robinson crewing for skipper James Sandall, of Napier club, were the first Kiwis to win a race in the worlds several years ago in England.
"This is the second time any locals won the race," he said, delighted to be the first Kiwis to win a race at the nationals last week or in this worlds.
Last year, Pedersen and Percy, 28, won the silver class in Fflorin at the nationals, which is open to boats built before 1990.
Fflorin, which two Bobs used to own, was built in 1988.
About 10 to 25 knots is ideal for Flying Fifteens but the pair were banking on a more fickle 10-15 knots because it favours them as a lightweight combination.
"It was probably 10 knots at the maximum so it was really good for two light guys," said Pedersen.
The Flying Fifteen is a 300kg small-keel vessel with a spinnaker. It has lead weight at the bottom and three sails, a main and a jib to keep the crew member busy.
The Flying Fifteen (fifteen refers to its water length and names tend to have "ff" woven in) is the 1947 brainchild of British yacht designer Uffa Fox. It has since become the largest fixed-keel class in the world, with around 4000 vessels.
Over the years, Fox agreed to modify the design specification and sail plan.
The yacht gained international status in 1978 and the first world championship was staged in Perth, Australia, in 1979 and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have alternated hosting it every two years.
Yesterday Pedersen said the very light winds and overcast conditions suited them after the fleet was delayed from racing for a couple of hours. It wasn't until early afternoon that light easterlies prompted two races.
"We finished the nationals 13th overall so to get a first [yesterday] was really good," Pedersen said. "Even if we're in the top 10 [at the end of the world champs], it'll be a huge upset."
He said it was the highlight of his career, as he had been sailing all his life, albeit predominantly paper tigers.
"I think we're only the second people from Hawke's Bay to win a race in the worlds and it's been going for so many years."
The Bay pair are pacing themselves for a race a day now until Friday.
It's all Australians above and below the Bay pair.
David Yu and Chris Nelson are the overall leaders with third and first placings.
Matthew Owen and Andrew Reed are runners-up with second and fourth placings, while husband and wife Nick Jerwood and Janet Jerwood are fourth overall after fifth and second placings.
"The forecast is light all week so we're hoping it continues like that then we can get some nice, light races away," said Pedersen
