Sebastian Kempe remains within striking distance of a podium finish at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Al Mussanah, Oman.

Kempe is second among the 50-strong men’s Laser Radial class with one race remaining in the nine-race series. He endured mixed fortunes in the seventh and eighth races.

He started the day in second, keen to make further inroads towards the top of the pecking order. However, the 16-year-old got off to the worst possible start after being disqualified for crossing the start line early in the seventh race.

Despite the setback, he bounced back in spectacular fashion at the first opportunity with victory in the penultimate race of the series, his third win of the regatta.

Kempe initially finished second but was bumped up to first after Lasonas Kefallonitis, of Greece, suffered the same fate as his Bermudian rival in the previous race after being disqualified for crossing the start line early.

“He didn't have a great start but his boat speed in the conditions was excellent and he was able to fight his way up to the front,” Somers Kempe, the Bermuda team leader, told The Royal Gazette.

“He eventually finished second behind a competitor from Greece (Kefallonitis), who was black flagged in race 8 – so Sebastian captured his third first place.

“His coach [Shaun Priestley] was pleased how Sebastian handled the pressure of getting the black flag [disqualification] in the first race.”

José Gomes Saraiva Mendesre, of Portugal, leads the standings by seven points over Kempe. Przemyslaw Machowski, of Poland, is third a father four points off the lead pace.

“Looking at the results, we know that the competition will be tight right to the end of the final race tomorrow,” team leader Kempe added.

Meanwhile, also representing Bermuda in Oman is Kempe’s compatriot Nicole Stovell who is among the 46-strong women’s Laser Radial fleet.

Stovell posted finishes of 16th and 23rd in the seventh and eighth races of the nine-race series to jump three places from 31st to 28th in the standings.

“Nicole had an encouraging day,” Kempe said. “She put in her most consistent day so far and is within striking distance of a top 50 per cent finish in the regatta.”

Florencia Chiarella, of Peru, holds a comfortable 15 – point advantage over nearest rival Anja von Allmen, of Switzerland, at the top of the leaderboard. Zulal Alev Erkan, of Turkey, is a farther six points back in third.