Four Kiwis In World Top 10

Four Kiwis In World Top 10

New Zealand has four entries in the top 10 at the close of day 9 of the ISAF World Sailing Championships in Spain. The regatta is now in full swing with racing being held at all three venues and in 11 classes.

The Laser class are now into the second day of a three day qualification series. 171 sailors from 62 Countries have been split into four fleets as they battle it out for Olympic Qualification and the World Championship title. Andrew Murdoch of Kerikeri is the top placed kiwi in 6th position overall after finishing 2nd and 5th in the day's two races held in a shifty 14 - 18 knot breeze. Coach Ian Neely attributes his results to, "good speed and keeping it simple". Wellingtonians' Robbie McMillan and David Weaver currently lie in 12th and 30th position respectively, with Rod Dawson close behind in 39th.

The first races of the men's and women's Mistral finals were held in Pto. Sherry in a fresh 15 - 20 knot breeze. Defending World Champion Barbara Kendall has moved up the leaderboard to 3rd place overall after finishing the day on a high with a bullet in the later race. Kendall was pleased with her performance, and Coach Shayne Bright is hoping for lighter winds on Saturday to "mix up the results". Fellow New Zealander Julie Worth, joins Kendall in the top half of the fleet in 29th position overall.

In the men's event, Jon-Paul Tobin remains in 4th place after a (9, 11) in race seven and eight and is "fired up" for the remaining three races. Fellow NZL competitors in the Gold fleet are Aucklander's Tom Ashley who is 29th overall and James Wells in 34th position. Matthew McCormick is in the Silver fleet in 61st position overall.

In the 470 women's class, Shelley Hesson and Linda Dickson have moved up to 5th place overall after adding another two top results to their series. The duo were pleased with a 3rd and 7th, especially after ripping their kite in the first race.

Defending World Champion's, Simon Cooke and Peter Nicholas are the top placed kiwis in the men's 470 class in 11th place overall after three races. Cooke and Nicholas finished the day with a credible 3rd place even after experiencing a bit of drama when they hooked onto the pin end boat anchor warp. They are also hoping for more wind tomorrow as the afternoon sea-breeze cancelled out the land breeze on their course leaving the fleet to drift for 3 hours before the race officer abandoned the race.

The action continues on Saturday in and around the Bay of Cadiz. It marks the end of the regatta for the Yngling crews who are scheduled to sail in their final race, while the Star and Mistral classes compete in their prenultimate day of finals. The Laser, 470, 49er and Tornado's have their last day of qualification before their finals begin and the Finn class have a lay-day.

NZL Results:

Laser: (after 4 races, 171 entries) 6th - Andrew Murdoch 12th - Robbie McMillan 30th - David Weaver 39th - Rod Dawson 75th - Michael Bullot 77th - Hamish Pepper

Mistral Women: (after 8 races, 65 entries) 3rd - Barbara Kendall 29th - Julie Worth 37th - Sheena McKinnon 51st - Anita Purdie

Mistral Men: (after 8 races, 118 entries) 4th - Jon-Paul Tobin 29th - Tom Ashley 34th - James Wells 61st - Matthew McCormick

Yngling: (after 10 races, 41 entries) 21st - Sharon Ferris/Joanna White/Sara Winther 32nd - Alesha Thorpe/Karen Lambert/Michelle Vinsen

49er: (after 6 races, 84 entries) 44th - Mike Bassett/Ed Smyth 70th - Chris Skinner/Chris Burgess

Finn: (after 6 races, 82 entries) 28th - Clifton Webb 35th - Peter Fox

470 Women: (after 4 races, 55 entries) 5th - Shelley Hesson/Linda Dickson

470 Men: (after 3 races, 98 entries) 11th - Simon Cooke/Peter Nicholas 26th - Andrew Brown/Jamie Hunt 62nd - Stephen Keen/Philip Keen 80th - Geoff Woolley/Mark Overington

Tornado: (after 3 races, 72 entries) 26th - Aaron McIntosh/Mark Kennedy

Star: (after 8 races, 83 entries) 47th - Rohan Lord/Andrew Taylor

Yachting New Zealand Coach John Clinton can be contact in Cadiz on mobile +34 677223820

For further information on the Regatta refer to the official website: www.cadizworlds2003.com

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