Aucklander David Robertson clinched the Minstrel Youth World Championship title yesterday.
Robertson, 18, showed remarkable consistency throughout the championship, to win three of the eight races, with another four top-three finishes, in a fleet of 79 competitors.
The title was won in 2002 and 2003 by another New Zealander, Thomas Ashley.
"He's alwaysbeen a great tactical sailor," Yachting New Zealand's national coach Paul Page said of Robertson, who sails for the Kohimarama Yacht Club.
"Now that he is maturing and has the upper-body physical strength, he can bring in results in all conditions."
Robertson, who finished fourth at the New Zealand Olympic trials this year, prepared for the Bulgarian regatta by training in Europe.
"After some hard training in Athens I peaked at the right time," he said.
"The conditions really suited me, resulting in some nice speed.
"I am really stoked to have dominated the regatta and to have kept the title in New Zealand for another year."
Another Aucklander, Anna Eason, 19, was fifth in the women's division.
She finished behind four European competitors in a total fleet of 29.
"I struggled in the light winds at the start of the regatta," Eason said.
The New Zealand contingent was completed by Michael Lichtwark, who finished 26th.
