It's rated among the toughest of the Olympic classes and Kiwi pair Hamish Pepper and Carl Williams are top of the world in the demanding Star class this year.
The Aucklanders won the world title in San Francisco in October, finishing three points clear of hotshot Brazilian RobertScheidt, a two-time Olympic Laser champion, and his crew, Bruno Prada.
And that means they're odds on to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. But best hold all bets for the moment.
Slipping quietly into sixth spot in San Francisco were another Kiwi crew, Rohan Lord and Miles Addy. Yachting works on the basis of sailors qualifying their countries, even though they might not get the entry themselves.
So it's possible Pepper and Williams might miss out on Beijing, although they are in the box seat, for now. They can qualify a New Zealand boat for the Olympics at next year's world champs in Portugal in July.
In a field of 66 yachts, Pepper and Williams won two of the six races and an eighth placing in the final race ensured they would see off the Brazilian challenge.
Allowing for one discarded result, they recorded two firsts, a fourth, a fifth and an eighth.
Pepper, tactician in the ill-starred Team New Zealand defence of the America's Cup in 2003, and Williams, a member of the Oracle syndicate in next year's regatta in Valencia, wrapped up a memorable year by winning the North American championship in Miami last month, with a race to spare, with three wins and a third.
New Zealand has a bit of history in the event. Don Cowie and Rod Davis finished second in the Star class at the Barcelona Olympics 14 years ago.
Pepper began racing in the class in January but Williams is a late starter, having been sailing the Star just 35 days before the world's.
"Every day Carl and I have been in the boat has been a better day. We realise we still have much to learn," Pepper said. And with Lord and Addy on their tails, an interesting year looms.
