2009 Laser World Champs Update

 Now three days in, with just four races sailed, and a hurricane predicted, the 2009 Laser World Championships is providing the ten member New Zealand team with some unique challenges. The Olympic class Laser World Championships are being sailed in Halifax, Canada and racing runs from August 20th to 26th. 

Best placed of the kiwis at this stage is Josh Junior in 10th overall, while the on form Michael Bullot has two wins from four races, and lies 20th with an 18th as his third score to count. Andrew Maloney has also made a solid start and lies 18th. The fleet totals 163 sailors. 

With day two of the championship plagued by fog, day three meant a re-run of racing for the blue fleet, before everyone could get on with races three and four of the series and make the most of the 16-22 knot winds and sunny skies on day three just concluded. 

The leader in the Championship after race four is GBR’s Nick Thompson who has two second places and two wins. Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) is two points back in second place overall while fellow Croatian Milan Vujasinovic has climbed into third place. 

Organisers have been watching with interest the progress of Hurricane Bill and sailors are awaiting a final decision, though it looks likely that racing will be cancelled for tomorrow. A decision will be made early allowing competitors and organisers the time to pack away boats and prepare for the hurricane which is forecast to brush Nova Scotia on Sunday night. 

2009 Laser World Championships, Halifax, Canada
New Zealand’s Standings after four races

10th Joshua Junior  
18th Andrew Maloney
20th Michael Bullot    
29th David Weaver   
45th Blair McLay   
49th Matt Coutts   
61st Max Andrews  
64th Sam Meech   
72nd James Sandall   
116th Aaron Hume-Merry  
 

See the regatta website for full results and the latest news.