Silver Medal for Thorpe in Spain

Silver Medal for Thorpe in Spain
Yachting New Zealand Official Media Release
Date: 10th April 2004

Issued by: Julie Worth

New Zealand sailors Alesha Thorpe and her crew of Michelle Vinsen and Karen Lambert finished the last day of racing at the Princess Sofia Trophy in Spain on a high note taking out the silver medal in the 30 strong fleet of Yngling sailors - the women's keelboat class for the 2004 Olympics.

The final day of racing was held in 12-14 knot breezes, allowing all classes to get in as many races as possible.

Thorpe and her crew must be happy with this result, after their rivals Sharon Ferris and her crew won the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in January. This top 3 result will mean the olympic selection trials in this class could be a fight down to the last race, with both teams showing the ability to take out podium finishes at major regattas.

In the other olympic classes, results didn't change significantly across most classes with the majority of sailors now looking ahead to their next major regatta, in many cases World Championships in May.

One crew to make a big jump was Tornado sailors Aaron McIntosh and Mark Kennedy who jumped up 10 places in the last day to 17th overall. This regatta was the perfect build up to the Tornado World Championships which will begin at the same venue in just a few days.

At these upcoming World Championships, sailors will fight it out for the 4 possible remaining olympic spots - with New Zealand one of the countries yet to qualify. McIntosh and Kennedy not only have to gain a spot for New Zealand, they also have to achieve the requirements to satisfy New Zealand's nomination process for olympic selection. The regatta will be held from the 10th - 17th April with racing due to start in the next couple of days.

The New Zealand final results were:

Yngling
Alesha Thorpe/Michelle Vinsen/Karen Lambert - 2nd
Sharon Ferris/Joanna White/Kylie Jamieson - 5th

Europe
Sarah Macky - 8th

Laser
Hamish Pepper - 7th

Finn r>Dean Barker - 11th
Clifton Webb - 16th
Peter Fox - 22nd

470 Women
Shelley Hesson/Linda Dickson - 16th
Melinda Henshaw/Jan Shearer - 22nd

470 Men
Andrew Brown/Jamie Hunt - 18th

Tornado
Aaron McIntosh/Mark Kennedy - 17th

A full set of results can be found at http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/dinghy/index.html

ENDS

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