Kiwis in medal hunt at Radial Worlds

Kiwis in medal hunt at Radial Worlds

Date Released: 9.30am 28th March, 2008
From: Jodie Bakewell-White

Kiwis in medal hunt at Men’s and Youth Radial Worlds

The 2008 Men’s and Youth Laser Radial World Championships are drawing to a conclusion with the titles set to be decided tomorrow, Saturday off Takapuna Beach, North Shore City. Racing started on Easter Monday, will continue today and wraps up tomorrow.

There are three world titles up for grabs at this event – Men’s, Youth Male and Youth Female – and currently New Zealand has four top three placed sailors putting us in good stead to collect some medals tomorrow.

Sailors have enjoyed good winds during the initial four days of competition and today promises good north easterly winds with two races scheduled for all fleets.

Andy Maloney leads the 85-strong Youth Male fleet with a solid nine point leading margin heading out on the water on the penultimate day today. Maloney has four race wins from eight races sailed, a point’s total of 14 and a decent jump on his nearest rival Martin Evans of Great Britain.

Cam McKee of Nelson, New Zealand is also in the medal hunt in the Youth Male class currently lying third and three points adrift of Evans in second place, and two points clear of the French sailor in fourth overall.

Wellingtonian, Cushla Hume-Merry is tussling it out for the top spot in the Youth Female division having held the lead over recent day’s she slipped back to second place after racing yesterday. It’s tight at the top however and the kiwi is just one point behind Gabrielle King of Australia in the lead.

Sarah Gunni of Denmark is in third place in the 38 boat Youth Female fleet, but with 15 points to make up on Hume-Merry she has her work cut out to make up the ground on the leaders.

Michael Leigh of Canada has been dominant so far in the Men’s Laser Radial division with a nine top ten finishes from ten races sailed, and a point’s score of 10. Brad Funk of USA is behind Leigh in second place with 22 points, while James Sandall of New Zealand has 30 points and third place overall heading into the penultimate day of racing today.

Kiwi team-mate Max Andrews is in 4th place in the 71-strong Men’s fleet nine points adrift of Sandall.

Sailors will hit the water shortly for an 11am start to racing today. Two races are planned for each fleet with a further two races on the programme for tomorrow to wrap up the regatta and decide the titles. Prize-giving will follow tomorrow evening.

Visit www.oceanphotography.co.nz to view images from racing.

2008 Laser Radial Male World Championship
Top ten overall standings after eight races

1st CAN Leigh Michael 10 points
2nd USA Funk Brad 22 points
3rd NZL Sandall James 30 points
4th NZL Andrews Max 39 points
5th AUS Burman James 42 points
6th FRA Frei Mathieu 56 points
7th NED Pelt Gijs 59 points
8th AUS Morgan Simon 65 points
9th NZL McLay Blair 72 points
10th FRA Leseigneur Malo 78 points

2008 Laser Radial Youth Male World Championship
Top ten overall standings after eight races

1st NZL Maloney Andrew 14 points
2nd GBR Evans Martin 23 points
3rd NZL McKee Cameron 26 points
4th FRA Florent Blais 28 points
5th AUS Burton Tom 31 points
6th NZL Saunders Jason 31 points
7th GBR Spencer James 33 points
8th NZL Meech Sam 34 points
9th NED Moerman Maarten Max 35 points
10th BRA Pereira Guilherme 36 points

2008 Laser Radial Youth Female World Championship
Top ten overall standings after eight races

1st AUS King Gabrielle 15 points
2nd NZL Hume-Merry Cushla 16 points
3rd DEN Gunni Sarah 31 points
4th FRA de Kerangat Mathilde 37 points
5th USA Dennis Claire 42 points
6th IRL Murphy Annalise 47 points
7th GBR Martin Chloe 55 points
8th AUS Stoddart Ashley 70 points
9th GBR Addy Melissa 71 points
10th GBR Diamond Hannah 78 points

ENDS

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