New Zealand boardsailer Tom Ashley leads the RS:X World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy, with three days of racing remaining.
The 22-year-old Aucklander was 4th and 10th in the two races yesterday to share the lead with Casper Bouman of the Netherlands, who had a 5th and a 17th.
Ashleyand Bouman are on equal points at the top of the leaderboard, with Joeri Van Dijk in third, just three points behind the leaders.
Moving last night into gold fleet competition, Ashley is up against the world's top wind surfers on the Olympic board.
Ashley made a comeback in race eight, after he became trapped at the start when another competitor stopped in front of him.
"Tom Ashley really fought back hard, pumping, pushing any one who got in his way. A complete show of strength and character to get a well- earned tenth," said the regatta's website.
New Zealand's JP Tobin improved his overall placing overnight to step up two places into 17th.
In the women's division Barbara Kendall slipped a place to 12th overall.
Her old rival Allessandra Sensini of Italy hit the lead showing top form after a long break from competition. Sensini has a record similar to Kendall with three Olympic medals under her belt.
There are four races remaining before the medal race.
At the end of racing yesterday a New Zealand delegate presented a bid to host the 2008 RS:X World Championships in Takapuna, North Shore City.
