Slater retains lead at Finn Gold Cup

Slater retains lead at Finn Gold Cup
Date Released: 25 January 2008

From: Jodie Bakewell-White

Slater retains lead at Finn Gold Cup

Dan Slater has extended his lead at the Finn Gold Cup on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne after two days of racing. Slater was fourth in race three of the World Championship regatta which was the only race sailed on day two.

The kiwi campaigner is twelve points clear of Great Britain's Ben Ainslie who rocketed up to second overall after a win in yesterday's race.

An inconsistent and dying breeze challenged the Finn fleet on day two.

"Today was really difficult with the breeze dropping from 15 knots to 8 knots just before the start," says Slater. "We had shifts of 15-20 degrees throughout the race and with a huge first beat there were boats that had massive splits between each other."

"I had not a good start but was able to clear really early and get my own lane from there I sailed up the middle of the beat."

"I rounded in 3rd and at the bottom was 7th in a bit of a pile up but once clear managed to sail back to finish 5th across the line but 4th on the score sheet and the leader was over the start early."

"So a 4th in testing conditions was another counter and I enjoyed having the speed and height to sail my own race", says Slater.

Two races are scheduled for today and the regatta concludes next Tuesday.

Finn Gold Cup 2008
Top Five Standings after day two

1st Dan Slater NZL - 6 points
2nd Ben Ainslie GBR - 18 points
3rd Aimilios Papathanasiou GRE - 19 points
4th Jonas H Christensen DEN - 26 points
5th Pieter Jan Postma NED - 27 points

Click the link below for full results and more news.

[ Finn Gold Cup ]

Woolley and Overington strong on day one at 470 Worlds

Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington are the best placed of the New Zealand team in sixth overall at the 470 World Championships in Melbourne. On the first day of racing they recorded two fourths and are the only kiwis in the top ten at this early stage.

Carl Evans and Peter Burling were 10th and 7th in racing on day one which puts them in 22nd overall in the fleet of 94 boats.

Racing continues today in Melbourne and concludes next Wednesday.

Click the link below for full results and more news

[ 470 World Championships ]

ENDS

[ Yachting New Zealand site click here ]

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