Two NZL crews in 470 top ten

The NZL Sailing Team’s last wave of World Championship campaigns for 2012 are underway in Europe for the Finn, 470 and Laser Radial sailors.

Six races have now been completed at the 470 World Championships for both Men and Women, ending the qualifying series. Both Olympic bound Kiwi crews are inside the top ten of the gold fleet as they head into six final series races before the double point medal race on Saturday for the top ten boats.

Jo Aleh and Olivia (Polly) Powrie celebrated Jo’s 26th birthday today with an opening race win, and followed that up with a strong fourth. They are currently positioned in third overall, but there is only a five point difference from first to sixth, so this regatta is far from over.

Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders experienced a big jump up the leader board today as they were able to discard their black flag score (penalty for being over the start line too early) from the first race on day one. All their other results have been consistently inside the top seven, and they go into the final series ranked ninth overall.

Dan Slater currently sits 19th overall at the Finn Gold Cup in Falmouth, after sailing today in cold and stormy conditions brought him both his best and worst races of the regatta so far. In the opening race with winds up to 20kn he did well to finish 9th, however a 32nd place finish in the second race became his discard score. 

Just four more series races remain at the Finn Gold Cup before the final medal race for competitors in the top ten overall. Lighter winds are forecast for tomorrow.

The Laser Radial World Championship started today in Boltenhagen, Germany, at the same venue which last week the NZL Sailing Team’s Andy Maloney left with a bronze medal.  Sara Winther made a good clean start with second and 22nd place finishes in the first two races. Ten more races are left to be sailed at the Laser Radial World Championships.

16 May 2012 current standings

470 Womens World Championship
54 boats, after 6 races
3rd - Jo Aleh & Olivia (Polly) Powrie

470 Men’s World Championship
95 boats, after 6 races
9th - Paul Snow Hansen & Jason Saunders

Finn Gold Cup (World Championship)
94 boats, 6 races
19th – Dan Slater
36th – Matt Coutts
59th – Rob Coutts

Laser Radial World Championship
133 boats, 2 races
18th -  Sara Winther

The RS:X World Championships were sailed in March, and JP Tobin came away with a Bronze medal, setting the bar high for the team to follow. Andy Maloney grabbed up a bronze medal at the Laser World Championships which finished on May 10th. One day later, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke finished the 49er World Championships with a silver medal.

Daily updates for all events including results will be posted via the NZL Sailing Team’s Facebook Page and Twitter accounts. Further press releases will be issued from Yachting New Zealand.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO

2012 Finn World Championships
Venue: Falmouth, England
Racing Starts: May 13th
Final Races: May 18th
Representing New Zealand: Dan Slater, Matt Coutts, Rob Coutts
Regatta Website: www.falmouthfinnfestival.com

2012 470 World Championships
Venue: Barcelona, Spain
Racing Starts: May 13th
Final Races: May 19th
Representing New Zealand: Jo Aleh/ Olivia (Polly) Powrie, Paul Snow Hansen/Jason Saunders
Regatta Website: http://worlds.470.org

2012 Radial World Championships
Venue: Boltenhagen, Germany
Racing Starts: May 15th
Final Races: May 20th
Representing New Zealand: Sara Winther
Regatta Website: www.laserworldchampionship.com/