Malcolm Smith pipped perennial rival Brett Wright to clinch the 2008 Laser Nationals on a tie-break in the Great Sound at the weekend.

After leader Wright had given up valuable ground when he capsized twice in the penultimate race, Smith, with a little help from fellow veteran Stevie Dickinson, won the final race to take the title.

Going into the final race Smith needed to put a boat between himself and Wright. And he did just that as Dickinson sailed past Wright heading towards the second weather leg and held on to finish second.

Wright finished runner-up in the overall points standings while third place honours went to All-American and reining Edward Cross Cup champion Jesse Kirkland. William Hutchings, who recently represented Bermuda at the ISAF Worlds in Europe, finished fourth.

Kirkland started the final day on a positive note when he scored a bullet in the sixth race and followed that up by finishing second in the seventh, before eventually falling out of contention through fatigue.

"Malcolm told me before that last race that he needed to put a boat between himself and Brett. I told him that it wouldn't be me. I was busted," Kirkland said.

Meanwhile, Bermudian Laser and Fitted Dinghy sailor Rockal Evans currently sits in 39th position in a fleet of 76 boats at the US Nationals in California.

Also competing abroad this week is Comet sailor Rudy Bailey who will look to improve upon last year's second place finish at the Comet International Championships in Maryland.