New Zealand skipper Simon Minoprio has taken over the top rung of the ladder at the end of the second day of the Warren Jones youth keelboat regatta, after surviving six matches undefeated, through a hot and testing day on the Swan River yesterday.

Holding onto second place is Sydneysider Michael Dunstan, of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, whose only loss for the day was to Minoprio who represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Laurie Jury, another Kiwi, who shared first place with Dunstan after the first day, has slipped to third place, having lost his first three races of the day, before putting four wins on the board.

Minoprio commented: “Mike Dunstan was obviously going to be the biggest battle, because it was the first time we’d lined up against him since the Australia championships.”

Dunstan is unfazed by being knocked off the top of the ladder at this stage of the regatta, having sailed less races than his Kiwi rival, adding: “It was a shame to lose to Simon but it’s not too bad to only have one loss so far.”

Minoprio and Dunstan last faced each other on the water, in the final of the Australian Championships in December, which the New Zealander won.

It was not only the sailing skills of the crews that was tested yesterday, but their endurance in the heat, with the temperature topping out at 39 degrees, fanned by a gusty north-easterly, coming straight off the desert.

There was some relief after lunch when a 10 to 12 knot seabreeze established itself, not only bringing the temperature down, but being steadier in strength and direction.

The Warren Jones Youth Regatta is being hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, and organised by the Western Australian Yachting Foundation, in memory of Warren Jones, who was the inspirational manager behind Australia II’s America’s Cup victory in 1983.

Results (after day 2)

1. Simon Minoprio, RNZYS 12 1

2. Michael Dunstan, RSYS 10 1

3. Laurie Jury, RNZYS 10 3

4 equal Keith Swinton, SoPYC 8 5

4 equal Torvar Mirsky, FSC 8 5

6= Emil Wiberg, RGYC 6 6

6= Adam Garnaut, RFBYC 6 6

8. Richard Howard, CYCA 5 8

9 equal Murray Gordon, RPAYC 3.5 7.5

9 equal Jackson Digney, RPYC 3.5

8.5

11. Phillip Murdoch, TSC 2 11

12. Adam Smith, EFYC 0 12