Andrew Murdoch is lying fourth at the 2005 Laser world championships going into the finals.
The other four New Zealanders competing have also qualified for the gold fleet finals in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Murdoch has continued to improve throughout the regatta and moved overnight from fifth to fourth place.
Current worldand Olympic champion Robert Scheidt has a strong 14-point lead and has the advantage of sailing on home waters.
"Murdoch had another strong day, finishing with a fifth and a third," Yachting New Zealand academy coach Ian Neely said.
"He is now only a couple of points behind third, with the top spots still attainable.
Finals racing starts tonight (NZT). Two races take place each day with the 138 boats sailing in gold and silver fleets.
Murdoch has recorded six top-five finishes through the eight qualifying races that finished last night.
He carries his current score of 28 points through into the finals, sitting just two points behind Jeremie Steyaert of France. Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia, who won the Olympic bronze medal last year, is on 23 points in second place.
"Murdoch is looking stronger as the regatta goes on and his fitness is spot-on. I believe he is ready for a good finals performance," Neely said.
Next in the New Zealand team is Michael Bullot, who had a disappointing day to slip seven places back to 18th.
David Weaver holds 37th, Blair McLay, 19, is in 49th and Mathew Blakey is sitting at 62nd. The entire kiwi contingent are well inside the top half of the 136-boat fleet and proceed into the gold fleet for the finals series.
