Best Result Ever At Optimist World Champs

Date Released: 26 July 2004
From: Jodie Perkins

NEW ZEALAND CLAIMS THE TEAM TROPHY AT OPTIMIST WORLD CHAMPS

Results of New Zealand's four top competitors combine to take out the Miami Herald Team Trophy at the Optimist World Championships.

New Zealand junior sailor Paul Snow-Hansen won his final race and finished second in the Optimist World Championships. Fellow kiwi Daniel Willcox concluded the regatta in fourth position. Racing came to an end over the weekend in Ecuador.

President of the Optimist Association David Glen comments that it is astounding result.

"To have Paul and Daniel finish in the top five is beyond our wildest dreams," he says. "It's a tribute to the work that has been put in to developing these young sailors and proves their sailing talent."

Both Snow-Hansen and Willcox competed at the 2003 Championships and it is excellent to see them returning to the event and using that experience to improve their results. At 13 years of age all the kiwis are eligible to compete again next year when the regatta will be sailed in Switzerland.

New Zealand's previous performances at the Optimist World Champs have only ever seen us win one race. This year the two top kiwis have clocked up seven race wins between them. The standard of racing in New Zealand has been steadily increasing and the diet of top class racing in big fleets seems to have paid high dividends.

Glen is quick to point out that the final results for the remaining three kiwis should not be overlooked, and have helped to bring in an unprecedented overall team result for New Zealand. 228 youngsters were sailing at the event.

New Zealand's Final Results:

Paul Snow-Hansen (Murrays Bay Yacht Club) - 2nd
Daniel Willcox (Wakatere Boating Club) - 3rd
Francesco Lardies - 43rd
Carl Evans - 55th
Susannah Pyatt - (5th girl) 61st

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