Racing underway in Palma for ISAF Sailing World Cup

Yachting New Zealand

MEDIA RELEASE

1 APR 2014

NZL Sailing Team Update: Racing underway in Palma for ISAF Sailing World Cup

The 2014 European season is underway for the NZL Sailing Team after the first of the major northern hemisphere ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas opened today in Palma de Mallorca Spain.

Winds were light throughout the day with an afternoon sea breeze allowing for plenty of racing in all fleets yet the day proved testing for many of the NZL Sailing Team with some highlight performances but predominantly mixed results from day one.

With a race win today Natalia Kosinska, NZL Sailing Team windsurfer is 8th on the Women’s RS:X leader-board at this early stage in the regatta, where a race discard comes in to play earlier than usual after two races. Kosinska, who represents the Takapuna Boating Club, sailed three races returning an 11, 1 and 21.

There were race wins also for 49er pairs Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (pictured above), and Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski each taking a gun finish apiece on day one at ISAF Sailing World Cup, Palma. The 79 49er skiffs competing are split into two fleets for qualifying sailing three races in each today. Hansen and Porebski, who were World Championship silver medallists in 2013, are the best placed of the kiwi skiffs in 14th overall with the reigning world champs, Burling and Tuke in 17th after they had a 16th and a 29th in their other two races.

Women’s skiff sailors Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech produced a 15, 5 and an 8 on day one to lie 15th overall in the 49 strong fleet. Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie are in 16th after two races in the Women’s 470, their male counterparts Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox are in 20th in the men’s fleet.

In the Finn class Josh Junior and Andrew Murdoch are sitting 19th and 22nd respectively after day one, Junior’s best result of the day a 6th in race two; Murdoch’s was a7th in race one.

With four kiwi representatives the Laser class, featuring 144 entrants, sailed three races today in Palma. Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club’s Sam Meech is the best of the kiwis in 13th overall with a 14, 2, 7 scorecard from today. Thomas Saunders, from the same yacht club, also managed consistent results with a 7, 11 and 6 – he lies 20th, while Andy Maloney is in 51st.

The Nacra 17 mixed multihull has attracted 73 boats for racing here in Palma and NZL Sailing Team crew Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders are among them. After three races on day one they are in 40th overall.

Racing continues tomorrow and runs over the next five days with titles and medals set to be decided in Palma on April 5th.

The schedule for ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma…

31st March – Practice Race
31st March – 5th April – Racing Days

ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma; New Zealand’s standings after day one
Full results here

Women’s RS:X (56 boards)
8thNatalia Kosinska – NZL Sailing Team, RS:X Women (11, 1, 21)
Women’s 470 (47 boats)
16thJo Aleh and Polly Powrie - NZL Sailing Team (9, 17)
Men’s 470 (78 boats)
20thPaul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – NZL Sailing Team (9, 9, 11)
49er (79 boats)
14thMarcus Hansen and Josh Porebski – NZL Sailing Team (13, 23, 1)
17thPeter Burling and Blair Tuke – NZL Sailing Team (16, 1, 29)
51st Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock (15, 25, 28)
49erFX (49 boats)
15thAlexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – NZL Sailing Team, 49erFX (15, 5, 8)
Finn (56 boats)
19thJosh Junior – NZL Sailing Team, Finn (26, 6)
22ndAndrew Murdoch – NZL Sailing Team, Finn (7, 14)
Laser (144 boats)
13thSam Meech – NZL Sailing Team (14, 2, 7)
20thThomas Saunders – NZL Sailing Team (7, 11, 6)
51stAndy Maloney – NZL Sailing Team (15, 13, 14)
66th Andrew McKenzie (32, 23, 12)
Nacra 17 (73 boats)
40thGemma Jones and Jason Saunders – NZL Sailing Team (27, 26, 8)

Coaches and support: Jez Fanstone, Nathan Handley, John Cutler, Hamish Willcox, Steve Erickson, Peter Evans and Will Howden

About the NZL Sailing Team

The NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who have made the top 20% in their most recent (respective) class World Championships or pinnacle event and have shown consistency of performance over the year including other significant Championships.

Yachting New Zealand’s High Performance Programme is focussed on winning medals at the Olympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.

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