Yachting: Gold for NZ at world optimist champs

Chris Steele won the Optimist world championships in Sardinia on Thursday (NZ time) giving the New Zealand team their first gold medal at this level.

Teammate Alexandra Maloney won the bronze and was the top female finisher in the 13-race series, which concluded overnight.

Steele, from Wakatere Boating Club in Auckland, was consistent throughout the regatta with six top three finishes over the 13 races sailed.

He finished with 62 points, five ahead of Benjamin Grez of Chile.

Maloney, from Murray's Bay Sailing Club, was 23 points behind Grez to win the bronze medal.

She was also consistent throughout and finished well ahead of her nearest female rival who was in 10th place overall.

National champion Logan Dunning-Beck, also of Wakatere Boating Club, finished ninth overall.

- NZPA