Sophie Platts competes on day two of the Laser Radial Youth World Championships in New Zealand. (Picture by Rob Platts, 0555370)

STRONGER winds of 12 to 15 knots combined with spring tides to bring exciting and challenging sailing to day two of the Laser Radial Youth World Championships in Takapuna, New Zealand.

Sarnian Sophie Platts got off to a good start in race one and rounded the first mark in the top 10. The windward legs of the courses are huge – almost a mile long – and when Platts rounded the leeward mark, neither she nor any of the leaders could see the windward mark.

There had been a 10-degree shift in the wind and, as the leaders had failed to take a bearing to the mark, the first 10 boats headed for mark one instead of mark two – a hard lesson that cost Platts at least a dozen places and left her crossing the line in 22nd place.