NZL Has Qualified 7 out of 11 Spots for Olympics

NZL Has Qualified 7 out of 11 Spots for Olympics

ISAF World Championships
11 - 25 September 2003
Bay of Cadiz, Spain

On the final day of the ISAF World Championships in Spain, two more Olympic spots were secured in the Laser and 470 women's class, taking the tally to 7 out of a possible 11 classes who have secured early qualification for the 2004 Olympic Games. All is not lost for the remaining classes which are the Tornado, 49er, Star and Yngling, there is one last chance to qualify in 2004, at a select regatta which differs for each class.

Laser sailor Andrew Murdoch from Kerikeri was the standout New Zealander at the back end of the regatta. The 21 year old, crossed the finish mark in 9th position in the final race, which took him to 7th position overall in the 171 competitor fleet. Murdoch narrowly missed out on individual Olympic nomination, finishing a mere 4 points behind the 5th classes will be decided at a trial to be held in Auckland in January.

Yachting New Zealand's Chief Executive Simon Wickham comments on progress to date, "to have 7 of the 11 classes locked away at this stage is important, to then have 4 top 7 finishes and one of those sailors qualifing for selection puts us in a good position leading into the last year of Olympic preparation".

FINAL NZL Results:

Laser: (11 races, 171 entries)
7th - Andrew Murdoch
34th - Robbie McMillan
37th - Rod Dawson
41st - David Weaver
52nd - Michael Bullot
131st - Hamish Pepper (withdrawn due to injury)

Finn: (11 races, 82 entries)
28th - Clifton Webb
32nd - Peter Fox

470 (Men): (after 11 races, 98 entries)
18th - Simon Cooke / Peter Nicholas
31st - Andrew Brown / Jamie Hunt
46th - Stephen Keen / Philip Keen
70th - Derek Scott / David Healy
79th - Geoff Woolley / Mark Overington

470 (Women): (after 11 races, 55 entries)
19th - Shelley

© Scoop Media