Slater Wins Gold at Kiel Regatta

Slater Wins Gold at Kiel

Date Released: 26 June 2006
From: Jodie Perkins

Slater Wins Gold at Kiel Regatta

Dan Slater has won Gold at Kiel Regatta after a close fought Medal Race overnight.

"Today's Medal race was on a very short course in a 12 knot onshore wind with the start just 100m from the shoreline," says Slater of the deciding race.

"With three minutes to go I had the Danish sailor pinned outside the start line, but just for a bit of fun, as I thought it might rattle him a bit. I started at the Committee boat end with a good start, and rounded the first mark in 4th. At that stage had everyone behind me who needed to be. Down the run one of the Croatians got some pressure and went from 7th to 1st so around the bottom mark I was still in the lead but only by one place."

"Up the second beat I had the opportunity to push the Danish and Croatian out to the wrong side, which meant I could concentrate on catching the leader. I rounded the last mark in 3rd and went across the finish line 2nd and giving me the overall win."

Slater is only the second kiwi to win Kiel Week in an Olympic class, since a win in the Women's 470 back in 1987. He now travels together with coach, Nathan Handley to Split, Croatia for the Finn World Championships (Finn Gold Cup) commencing 8 July.

The other New Zealander to make top ten at Kiel Week this year was fellow Olympic Squad sailor Hamish Pepper and crew David Giles who finished 7th in the Star class.

Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington recorded their best performance of the season with an impressive 11th place in the Men's 470.

Andrew Murdoch was unable to continue the strong start he made in the Laser ending the regatta in 19th place. Michael Bullot was the top kiwi in the Laser with a final placing of 13th. Miranda Powrie also finished 13th in the Women's Laser Radial.

Kiel Regatta 2006
New Zealand's Final Results

Finn (55 boats)
Dan Slater - 1st

Star (49 boats)
Hamish Pepper & David Giles - 7th

Laser (171 boats)
Michael Bullot - 13th
Andrew Murdoch - 19th
David Weaver - 21st
Matt Blakey - 43rd
Blair McLay - 66th
Matt Coutts - 79th
Blair Lindsay - 88th
Aaron Hume-Merry - 122nd

Laser Radial (42 boats)
Miranda Powrie - 13th
Cushla Hume-Merry - 29th

470 Mens (66 boats)
Geoff Woolley & Mark Overington - 11th

49er (59 boats)
Jake Bartrom & Craig Prentice - 45th

420 Open (154 boats)
Sarah Berry & Emma Berry - 107th

Click the link for full results.

Kiel Regatta Results

ENDS

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