Yachting: Teen follows in legends' footsteps with world win

Thomas Saunders. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Tauranga teenager Thomas Saunders has joined some illustrious names by winning the boys' Laser Radial class at the youth sailing world championships in Turkey.

The 17-year-old topped the single-handed event at the world's premier youth classes regatta at Istanbul after finishing eighth in the final race.

Other New Zealanders to have won the title in the 40-year history of the regatta include Russell Coutts in 1981, John Irvine in 1983, Stuart Bannatyne in 1989, Dean Barker in 1990, Dan Slater in 1994, Simon Small in 1996 and Sam Meech in 2009.

Saunders started the regatta well but a poor race saw him slip to eighth position before he fought back to claim the lead on the penultimate day.

The final day of the six-day event saw Saunders finish eighth to end up five points ahead of Keerati Bualong, of Thailand, with Italian Giovanni Coccoluto securing the bronze medal.

New Zealand also won a medal in the Open 29er skiff class with the silver going to Alexandra Maloney of Auckland and Sam Bullock of Tauranga.

- NZPA