Kiwis finish 5th, 10th &13th at 2008 Laser Worlds

Kiwis finish 5th, 10th &13th at 2008 Laser Worlds
Date Released: 14 February 2008
From: Jodie Bakewell-White

Kiwis finish 5th, 10th and 13th at 2008 Laser Worlds

Michael Bullot has recorded his best ever Laser World Championship result finishing fifth in Terrigal, Australia after racing was cancelled yesterday and results became final.

A southerly change producing winds over 30 knots, big swells and heavy rain put a dampener on what showed the promise of a nail-biting finish to the regatta. Racing was postponed and the abandoned and defending champion Tom Slingsby of Australia was announced Laser World Champion for 2008.

For 23 year-old Michael Bullot who represents the Murrays Bay Sailing Club this fifth place is far and away his best result at a World Championship, his previous best being a 19th place in Korea in 2006, while in Portugal last year he placed 26th. Unfortunately for Bullot, who was in striking distance of the podium bad weather in Terrigal yesterday halted any chance of him climbing further.

David Weaver of New Zealand also sailed to his best world championship result ever with a tenth place making it two kiwis in the top ten at this 157 boat fleet. Just five points back from Weaver was New Zealand’s Olympic representative Andrew Murdoch who finished 13th overall.

While Murdoch would like to have finished further up the ladder, with the Olympic Games in Qingdao now less than six months away, he has been in preparation and training to peak in the light wind conditions expected at the Chinese venue. Conditons in Terrigal over the past week have been blustery and fresh working in favour of regatta winner Tom Slingsby.

Having held the lead the regatta at times, Argentine Julio Alsogaray had to settle for silver while Javier Hernandez of Spain won the bronze.

2008 Laser World Championship
Top fifteen final results

1st Tom Slingsby AUS
2nd Julio Alsogaray ARG
3rd Javier Hernandez ESP
4th Vasilij Zbogar SLO
5th Michael Bullot NZL
6th Alexander Schlonski GER
7th Paul Goodison GBR
8th Nick Thompson GBR
9th Brad Funk USA
10th David Weaver NZL
11th Bruno Fontes BRA
12th Milan Vujasinovic CRO
13th Andrew Murdoch NZL
14th Adonis Bougiouris GRE
15th Marc de Haas NED

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