Medal Race today for second placed Slater

Medal Race today for second placed Slater

Date Released: 29 January 2008
From: Jodie Bakewell-White

Medal Race today for second placed Slater

It's all on for Dan Slater in Melbourne today who still has the Finn Gold Cup in his sights despite going into the medal race in second place behind Ben Ainslie of Great Britain. The double points medal race will be sailed on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne today.

Any of the top four placed sailors are in a position to claim the title however it's Ainslie with 35 points and Slater with 36 points who are best placed to take out the Championship. Pieter Jan Postma of the Netherlands is in third place on 43 points with Jonas Christensen lying fourth on 45 points.

The kiwi campaigner has led the regatta from the start until yesterday when he relinquished the top spot to the on-form Ainslie. With just one point now separating the two it will be an all out battle on the water in today's medal race to cross the line ahead of the other, while keeping an eye on Postma and Christensen also in the medal hunt.

Finn Gold Cup
Top Five Current Standings

1st Ben Ainslie GBR - 35 points
2nd Dan Slater NZL - 36 points
3rd Pieter Jan Postma NED - 43 points
4th Jonas Christensen DEN - 45 points
5th Chris Cook CAN - 62 points

[ Finn Gold Cup ]

_Penultimate day 470 World Championship
Carl Evans and Peter Burling are fighting for a medal race berth going into the penultimate day of the 470 World Championships in Melbourne. Currently lying 11th the kiwi's need to be in the top ten at the end of today's racing to take part in the double points medal race tomorrow.

Evans and Burling have a total of 84 points and are six points adrift of the French pair currently in 10th place. Fellow New Zealanders Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington are not far behind Evans and Burling and could also make it to the top ten if things really go their way today. They have 88 points.

While both New Zealand pairs will hope to round out the World Championship strongly, for New Zealand's Olympic selectors this regatta is about earning New Zealand a berth in the Men's 470 at the Olympic Games in August, and this national qualification looks a certainty.

Racing is scheduled to start at 1pm in Melbourne today.

[ 470 World Championships ]

ENDS

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