Northland sailor Ben Lutze is the Splash world champion after finishing at the front of the fleet in Tavira, Portugal.
The youth class regatta of 100 yachtsmen was dominated by New Zealanders, with George Lane third and three of his compatriots rounding out the top 10, easilyearning them the Champion Team Trophy.
Strong winds on the final two days suited Lutze, who improved several places.
Keziah Deverall was the second-highest ranked girl, finishing 17th overall.
