Israeli windsurfer heads field

Nimrod Mashich continued Israel's dream run in windsurfing at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Western Australia on Tuesday. With countrywoman Lee Korzits having already claimed the women's gold medal on Sunday, Mashich produced another consistent day's sailing in tricky conditions to take a clear lead after two days of racing in the class. Mashich, ranked second in the world, shared the overnight lead with world number one Piotr Myszka after finishing first and second in his opening two races. Despite unpredictable wind shifts, he replicated that effort on Tuesday, again finishing first and second in the yellow fleet to lead the field by four points. Mashich is bidding for his first gold medal at a world championships, having finished third and second in 2010 and 2009, and was pleased to be doing well for his country. "We have a big history in our country for windsurfing," he said. "Today was really good for my confidence, and now I'm relaxed and ready to focus on the next few days." Poland's Myszka was equal second after finishing third and fourth in the blue fleet, along with countryman Przemyslaw Miarczynski in third. There was no shortage of action in the flying 49er skiffs, with a number of competitors capsizing in flukey winds, and Denmark's Peter Kruger Andersen and Nicolai Thorsell heading the table.