Ben Wicks hit the top spot yesterday after two excellent days of sailing at the Byte World Championships in New Jersey.

Wicks, second going into yesterday's racing at the Mantoloking and Bay Head Yacht Clubs , caught and then overhauled leader Chris Watters after notching second and fifth place finishes. A 20th place in the first of the three races was discarded.

In Monday's two races, Wicks had finished third and second. His total of 12 points leaves Wicks two points clear of second-placed Silja Lehtinen, of Croatia, and nine clear of third-placed American Alex Singer.

Wicks is one of six Bermudians competing at the event, the others being O'neal Lindsay, Lisa Spurling, Dick Tulloch, Patricia Humphrey and Marion Watlington.

Wicks' father Michael, who is team leader at the regatta, said: "Now he (Ben) is at the top, there is nowhere else to go. He is relishing the moment tonight but tomorrow is another day."

The two days have seen contrasting conditions for the more than 70 competitors.

On Monday, winds reached between 15 and 25 knots - conditions the Bermuda team favoured. But yesterday the wind was lighter and conditions shifty.

"We took a little punishment," Wicks said of the remainder of the fleet.

Tulloch has dropped down to 15th from ninth after finishes of 30th, 15th and 24th. Meanwhile, Lindsay has persevered despite carrying an injury and it being his first time in a big event. He had started the day in 13th place, but finishes of 47th (discarded), 35th and 40th saw him drop to 30th overall.

"He has got an incredibly bad knee and is sailing through much pain," said Wicks. "Doctors cleared him to travel but the knee really needs surgery.

"He preferred the wind to be up because light winds mean having to squat."

Wicks said it had also been a tough day for the ladies.

Spurling dropped from 20th overall to 40th after finishes of 61st (discarded), 52nd and 45th, while Humphrey plunged to 50th from 39th overall after placing 52nd, 38th and and 55th (discarded). Watlington dropped from 49th overall to 56th after finishing 55th, 63rd (discarded) and 49th.

Michael Wicks said of Monday's performances: "Tulloch gave lessons to the youngsters with an excellent display of clever sailing that moved him into ninth.

"With a failed racing watch he waited for the last minute horn, counted down in his head and port-tacked the entire fleet for a great start."

Wicks said Spurling's effort in her first outing in a fleet of this size was tremendous.

"Bermuda is making an awesome showing," he added.

Bermuda's Brett Wright is in 77th place in the Silver Fleet at the Laser World Championships in Cork, Ireland, after nine races.