Maloney in top 10 at Finn Europeans

Andy Maloney and Josh Junior are hovering around the top 10 at the Finn European Championships in Cadiz, Spain, on a congested leaderboard.

Maloney is ninth and Junior 11th in the 91-boat fleet but only 13 points separate third and 13th. Junior, in particular, can expect to climb once the discard for a sailor's worst result comes into play considering a 43rd in today's first race sticks out among his other results of sixth and fourth.

Maloney was 15th and 24th in today's two races sailed in unexpectedly light and dry conditions - strong winds and rain had been forecast. Three races had been scheduled but the light winds meant the race committee called time on racing after the second race.

Nicholas Heiner of the Netherlands, who spent the summer in New Zealand training with Maloney and Junior, continues to lead the event, and holds a five-point advantage over Great Britain's Edward Wright. There's then a 26-point gap back to Argentina's Facundo Olezza in third but it's still early in the regatta and mistakes are amplified in such a large fleet.

It was a high scoring day for many, with race wins going to Wright and current world champion, Max Salminen, of Sweden, who is eighth overall.

“It was another difficult day to read the wind and predict what was the next move,” Maloney said. “Getting off the start line well was again crucial in the 100-boat fleet.

“I sailed OK but need to iron out a few things to start smashing out some top fives.

“Tomorrow’s forecast is promising a lot more wind so we should get some physical free pumping conditions. We have three races planned so it’s going to be a big day. I’ll be focusing on getting consistently punched off the line and sending it from there.”

The European championships represent the first major regatta for Junior and Maloney since helping Emirates Team New Zealand win the America's Cup win.

They are joined at the regatta by fellow Kiwi Brendan McCarty who is 24th after placing 24th and 29th in today's racing.

Results and standings after the second day of the Finn European championships in Cadiz, Spain, overnight (NZ time):

1st: Nicholas Heiner (NED) 1 7 2 - 10 points
2nd: Edward Wright (GBR) 9 1 5 - 15 pts
3rd: Facundo Olezza (ARG) STP 19 19 - 41 pts

9th: Andy Maloney (NZL) 12 15 24 - 51 pts
11th: Josh Junior (NZL) 6 43 4 - 53 pts
24th: Brendan McCarty (NZ) 30 24 29 - 83 pts

See here for full results.

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