Baird takes championship

Sailing

Sailing

Ed Baird, of the United States, who was coach to the America's Cup winning Team New Zealand earlier this year, won the Steinlager World Match Racing Championship in Auckland helped by three of his San Diego crew, beating Roy Heiner, of the Netherlands, 4-1 in the final. Having also recently won the Nippon Cup in Japan, Baird is now No 1 in the Omega world rankings - the first time an American has occupied the position since the standings were introduced in 1988.

MDL WINTER SERIES (Hamble): Race 8: CHS1: J Garrett (Garretty). CHS2: A Webster (Quencher). CHS3: D Duffin (Fastrak II). CHS4: J Wilkinson and P Meakins (Polly). CHS5: M Gray (St Jarna II). CHS6: M Moody (Shallot). Sportboats: N Hartog (Big Bull). Sigma 38: J Driver (Redcoat III). Sigma 33: J Kelly (Moonshine). J24: J Anderson (Tiger). Melges 24: I Pinnell (Pinnell and Bax). Folkboat: C Dobner (Henchen). Overall (best six from eight races): CHS1: R Cameron Davis (Xnantor). CHS2: H Davies (Madog). CHS3: D Duffin. CHS4: J Wilkinson and P Meakins. CHS5: P Smith and C Dowling (Scorpion). CHS6: M Moody. Sportboats: D Cable (Just Midnight). Sigma 38: D Aisher (Yeoman XXVIII). Sigma 33: J Perry (Firestorm). J24: J Anderson. Melges 24: M Humphries (Trax). Folkboat: J Tufnall (Gremlin).