KEY POINTS:
After a slow start to the Sail Auckland regatta, New Zealand's Jo Aleh has rocketed back into contention for a podium finish in the Laser Radial class heading into today's medal races.
Aleh was in sixth place at the start of the penultimate day of the ISAF grade
one event, but after recording a first, 12th and third respectively in her three races, the 21-year-old West Aucklander has moved into fourth.
"It was good to have a better day today and get myself back in the game," said Aleh, who has already secured her berth at this year's Olympics.
Aleh, a light air specialist, was hamstrung by the breezy conditions on the Waitemata Harbour over the weekend but was able to make the most of the wind shifts yesterday.
"The conditions were a bit more favourable - there was a bit of breeze around but it was shifter, so a lot more can happen. It wasn't just a boat speed race," she said.
A botched start in the final race of the day for leader Sari Multala of Finland will also help Aleh's cause. Multala recorded an OCS - meaning she crossed the start line early - and took 47 points from the race. With each sailor able to discard their worst performance, those points have not been added on to the 29-year-old Finn's overall total, but it does make Multala vulnerable heading into the medal race.
Multala is just one of a number of top-class sailors visiting for the Sail Auckland event, as they build up to the Laser Radial World Championships in Takapuna next month. The world's top-five sailors are looking to familiarise themselves with the conditions.
Aleh, who holds the world No 1 spot in the ISAF rankings, said: "It's so good just having all the internationals down here - you learn from them and catch on to what they're doing."
The regatta has also attracted a world-class tornado fleet, with their World Championships starting next week. Olympic windsurfing medallist Aaron McIntosh and Mark Kennedy are the best of the Kiwi crews, in 13th place.
The pair, who are gunning for Olympic selection, still have a shot at making the medal race with a good finish in the final regular race scheduled this morning.
Unsurprisingly, experienced Australian duo of Darren Bundock and Glen Ashby lead the tornado fleet. They hold a handy nine-point advantage over Germans Roland Gaebler and Gunnar Struckmann.
Boardsailing veteran Barbara Kendall remains within striking distance of the gold medal in the women's RS:X class. Kendall, who will attend her fifth Olympics this year, is in third place behind Spain's Marina Alabau and Romy Kinzl of Germany.
In the men's RS:X, Jon Paul Tobin is also sitting in third position. Greek Nikos Kaklamanakis leads the class with Portugal's Joao Rodrigues second.
In the men's 470, youngsters Carl Evans and Peter Burling, who were last week nominated for a spot at this year's Olympics, appear to be cruising to a gold medal with a 12-point lead over New Zealand's Geoffrey Woolley and Mark Overington in second.
Since the 470 World Champs were staged in Melbourne only weeks ago, most of the top international competitors are taking a break.
All fleets are scheduled to sail one final race this morning. The top-10 placed sailors after the 11 races will compete in the medal race, which carries double points.