Sarah Macky wins Europes! "Hi Everyone I won!!!!"

YACHTING NEW ZEALAND
Media Release
11 February 2002
On Behalf of Sail Auckland Regatta

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hi Everyone

I won!!!! Lenka was 2nd and Jo 3rd.

Today was still easterlies, but lighter than yesterday about 10-15kts and it was forecast to swing around to the west which made tactics a bit more complex. We had four races to catch up the ones that we missed yesterday. Race 1 I went for a pretty high risk start at the pin and got a big wave at the gun which pushed me into the mark. I had to do a 360 degree penalty turn, before I could continue racing. So, I had to play catch up, I was about 8th at the top mark and had a good downwind and caught up to the lead bunch. We were all very close on the last downwind but I couldnt quite get past and so I ended up 5th. Lenka was 1st so at that stage she was probably very close to me on points. But I knew that I had good boatspeed so I was pretty confident that I could win as long as I didnt do anything silly like hit any more marks. Race 2 I got a good start, picked the first shifts well, tacked on Lenka and sent her out on a knock the wrong way. So by the top mark I had a good lead, which I extended during the race. Jo was 2nd and Lenka 3rd. Race 3 I got a good start played the shifts well and was just in front of Lenka at the top mark. We had a really close race, I managed to edge her out on the 2nd downwind and then extend my lead on the beat, I finished about a boat length in front of her. Race 4 The wind swung a bit so I decided to start at the boat end of the line this time, it wasn't really favoured so this put me a boat length behind Lenka who was first after starting at the pin. She went round the top mark with a good lead and I was in the top bunch. We all caught her downwind, but she still rounded first, I was about 4th, I played the right side a bit and got a good shift and then I was winning. On the next beat Lenka and I were sticking close to each other and Jo got a shift out to the right and then she was winning. But i got another shift at the top mark and had a slim lead, which I managed to keep on the last downwind. It was really satisfying to be able to start behind and work my way to the front of the fleet. Final Results:

Todays placings: ----------------- Points
1st. NZL Sarah Macky 5,1,1,1 12
2nd. CZE Lenka Smidova 1,3,2,3, 21
3rd. AUS Jo Dikkenberg 6,2,8,2 25
4th ESP Neus Garriga 3, DSQ,5,7 29
5th DEN Ditte Juul 12,5,4,6 42

I am just thrilled with this result, to beat the best in the World is a big step up for me. Lenka is Number 1 on the ISAF World Rankings right now and Neus was 4th at the Worlds and the Olympics. A couple of months ago in training Lenka was comfortably beating me all the time, but Ive been working hard and I've got a new mast which is really fast.

Full results are available on the Regatta website http://www.saildownunder.org.nz

The NZ Nationals start this Friday at Takapuna.

Till then.... Sarah Sarah Macky

email: samacky@compuserve.com

Forwarded By: Emma Reid, Marketing & Communications Manager Email: emma@yachtingnz.org.nz Telephone: 64 9 488 9325 exn 808

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