Kendall, Ashley win windsurfing titles (+pics)

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WINNER: Tom Ashley of Devonport on his way to winning the men's section.

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SPLASHED: Lucy Driver of Thames picks up her sail.

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RACING: A mass of sails during one of the women's races.

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BUOY TROUBLE: Ben MacKay of Whangaparoa tangles with a buoy.

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Sefton Powrie of Epsom in action

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Barbara Kendall and Tom Ashley won the RS:X Olympic class windsurfing national championships off Takapuna Beach yesterday.

Kendall, who has won numerous national titles, was highly satisfied with her latest victory in the women's division given the high class international competition.

With the world championships now less than a month away, Takapuna is awash with top internationals. Thirty five women from 15 countries competed at the nationals.

Kendall's long-time rival Alessandra Sensini of Italy proved to be her toughest opponent. Kendall prevailed on the final two days.

Sensini was second and Romy Kinzl of Germany was third.

Just one point separated Kendall and Sensini after eight races.

Ashley won from a field of 48 from around the globe.

He beat Julian Bontemps of France by just two points.

Casper Bouman of the Netherlands was also in the hunt for the title but ended up five points adrift of Bontemps in third place.

The men competed in nine races over three days and Ashley clocked up four wins and was never outside the top seven.

Women: Barbara Kendall (NZ, 15 points) 1, Alessandra Sensini (Italy, 16) 2, Romy Kinzl (Germany, 16) 3, Blanca Manchon (Spain, 37) 4, Flavia Tartaglini (Italy, 38 points) 5.

Men: Tom Ashley (NZ, 21) 1, Julian Bontemps (France, 23) 2, Casper Bouman (Netherlands 27) 3, Joao Rodrigues (Portugal 47) 4, Dorian van Rijsselberge (Netherlands, 51) 5.

-NZPA