Lutze leads yachting champs

Kiwi sailor Ben Lutze has a five-point lead at the Splash world yachting championships being sailed off Takapuna.

Michael Kamp (Netherlands) is second after six races and George Lane (NZ) is third. Lutze, from Taipa in Northland, who won this event in 2008, thrives in challenging conditions.

He has now won four out of six races, and secured a second place. An unfortunate 10th came down to a pair of broken hiking straps before the start of race six, and is now included as his drop.

The final two qualifying races are scheduled for today, and the fleet will be divided into Gold and Silver for tomorrow and Friday's races.