Sam Meech and Andrew McKenzie continued their charge at the Laser European championships in La Rochelle overnight (NZ time) but things are about to get a whole lot more difficult as all the other top sailors join them in gold fleet.

Sam Meech continues to lead the Laser European championships in La Rochelle but he very nearly missed the start of racing on the second day.

Sam Meech has won all four of his races so far. Photo: Thom Touw Photography.

Sam Meech made a perfect start to the Laser European championships in La Rochelle overnight (NZ time), winning both of his races to take an early lead in the regatta.

Andrew McKenzie feels like he's back in familiar territory.

Andrew McKenzie finished third at last year's Laser European championships. Photo: Laser Europeans.

As many as 100 new Lasers will be available to charter at October's Oceania Laser masters championships in Fiji.

New Zealand has a strong tradition of OK dinghy racing, having won 12 world titles since Clive Roberts triumphed in 1973, and a handful of Kiwis will look to add to that record when the Wakatere Boating Club host the 2019 world championships next February.

Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie rounds up what's happening around the traps.

The Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club has been an important part of the community for the past century but has had to diversify in recent times, which has brought both rewards and challenges. They are our Aon Club of the Month.

Yachting New Zealand will be running a series of race management seminars throughout the winter to continue to train and upskill race officers to maintain high standards of racing and race officiating for our sailors.

Auckland Grammar defended their secondary schools teams racing national title last week but the event wasn't without its challenges, not least of all the weather.