Three lying top ten at Laser Worlds

Three lying top ten at Laser Worlds

Date Released: 11 February 2008
From: Jodie Bakewell-White

Three kiwi sailors are in the top ten going into the second half of the Laser World Championship in Terrigal, Australia today.

With six races under the belt and three days of competition remaining David Weaver lies third, Andrew Murdoch lies 7th and Michael Bullot lies 10th.

All three had a mixed first day of racing but have subsequently demonstrated consistency and delivered some top results which sees them all well placed at this stage in the Championship. Racing continues today and concludes on Wednesday.

David Weaver has two race wins from the six races sailed so far, one coming on day two and another yesterday when he placed 4th, 1st and 4th in the three races sailed. Discarding his worst race to date, a 26th he has appoints total of 17 and lies third overall behind Julio Alsogaray (ARG) with 15 points in second and local boy Tom Slingsby in the lead with 11 points.

Andrew Murdoch, New Zealand’s confirmed Olympic representative, had his best day of the regatta yesterday with a 2nd followed by two bullets. Racing on day three was tight between Murdoch, Australian Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison of Great Britain.

“We duked it out between the three of us," said Murdoch laughing. "We had very close racing in our group; it was a great group.”

"We sailed so hard in that second race (Race 5) that I thought we wouldn't have anything left in the tank for the last race of the day." Murdoch said conditions were mostly round the 20 knot mark and gusting. "On the last reach, we got as little as 10 knots at times. It was nice sailing"

"I had a really bad first day. I put it out of my mind and decided to start the second day with a clean sheet. It seems to have worked. I kept things simple today - I didn't panic," said Murdoch.

This puts the Kerikeri sailor in 7th place in the overall standings with 27 points. Murdoch has been on the podium at the Laser World Championships twice in the past with a silver medal in 2007 and bronze in 2005.

Michael Bullot is the third kiwi representative currently within the top ten with a points total of 31 and an overall standing of 10th at this mid-way stage. Bullot started strongly with a win in race one of the regatta and has sailed solidly since with a 9th, a 5th and a 6th in racing yesterday

The 157 boat fleet will split to gold, silver and bronze for the remainder of racing. Over the next three days those in the gold fleet with battle it out on the water for a spot in the final top ten medal race set to take place sometime on Wednesday.

Laser World Championship 2008
Top Ten Standings after Six Races

1st - Tom Slingsby AUS, 11 points
2nd - Juilo Alsogaray ARG, 15 points
3rd - David Weaver NZL, 17 points
4th - Javier Hernandez ESP, 18 points
5th - Vasilij Zbogar SLO, 22 points
6th - Nick Thompson GBR, 25 points
7th - Andrew Murdoch NZL, 27 points
8th - Felix Pruvot FRA, 27 points
9th - Gustavo Lima POR, 29 points
10th - Michael Bullot NZL, 31 points

Full results and news reports are available on the regatta website through the link below.

[ Regatta Website ]

ENDS

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