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NZL Women's 470 advance to second

Thursday 17 May 2012, 3:00PM

By Yachting New Zealand

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Left: Sara Winther sailed in tactically challenging conditions with midly oscilating winds from 15-20 knots on day 2 of the Laser Radial World Championships.
Left: Sara Winther sailed in tactically challenging conditions with midly oscilating winds from 15-20 knots on day 2 of the Laser Radial World Championships. Credit: Nils Bergmann

Jo Aleh and Olivia (Polly) Powrie have moved up to second place overall after two more good races at the 2012 470 World Championships in Barcelona. Two races were also sailed for the 470 men and at the Laser Radial World Championships in Germany, but there was no sailing at the Finn Gold Cup.

Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders dropped back to 21st overall after 22nd and 30th place finishes in their races in the Men's 470.

“Today was one of our hardest ever” commented Paul and Jason on their team facebook page. “It was a day of snakes and ladders, and we found most of the snakes... looking forward to a new day”.

Four more series races remain at the 470 World Championships before the medal races for top ten competitors. Team Jolly, Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, have medalled together at the last two 470 World Championships, a silver in 2010 and bronze in 2011.

Both Paul Snow Hansen with Jason Saunders and Jo Aleh with Polly Powrie will be representing New Zealand at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Sara Winther held her ground on day two of the Laser Radial World championships, sailing in uncharacteristically rough waters for Boltenhagen, Germany. She remains in 18th position overall after 10th and 13th place race finishes.

Sara too is using this event as part of her preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. Her previous personal best at a World Championship is 10th from the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. Still eight races remain at the 2012 Laser Radial World Championships so there is plenty of time to catch up.

There was no racing at the Finn Gold Cup today due to light and variable winds. Three races will now need to be raced tomorrow before the final race and medal race the day after. New Zealand's Dan Slater is in 19th overall, and will be looking for a better finish to his 2011 result which was 21st.

May 17th current standings

470 Womens World Championship
54 boats, after 8 races
2nd - Jo Aleh & Olivia (Polly) Powrie

470 Men’s World Championship
95 boats, after 8 races
21st - 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, 4 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.