Yachting: Burfoot good NZ chance

Former world champion Nik Burfoot will spearhead this country's chances as New Zealand begin their campaign in the world Laser yachting championships tomorrow.

The week-long regatta hosted by the Royal Melbourne Yacht Club will feature a fleet of 140 sailors, including reigning Olympic champion Robert Scheidt, who will attempt to add to his three consecutive world titles, with his chief challengers likely to be British world No 1 Ben Ainslee, Australian Michael Blackburn and Burfoot, who won the event in 1994 and has been second twice.

The rest of the New Zealand team are Josh Newman, Simon Small, Matt Blakey and Ian Neely.