Laser Sailors Qualify in Gold Fleet at Worlds
New Zealand Has All Four Sailors Qualified in the Gold Fleet at the Laser World Championships The end of day four at the
Laser World Championships sailed off Bitez, Turkey, has all four New Zealanders qualified in the Gold Fleet. Hamish
Pepper moves back up the leader board to be in 5th position, with Andrew Murdoch in 18th position, Matthew Blakey in
37th position and Michael Bullot in 42nd.
Pepper had a successful day of racing, notching up a 2nd and 5th placing in the two races of the day. To date, he has
finished in the top ten in five of the six races and is only eight points off second place. Murdoch also put in a solid
performance, with an 8th and 4th placing. Blakey had his worst day scoring a 36th and 21st, with Michael Bullot having a
34th and 26th.
At the top of the leader board is seven times former World Champion, Robert Scheidt from Brazil. It would have to be
said he is showing outstanding skill at this World Championship after notching up 4 wins from the six races.
Racing concludes 19th May
No Racing on the Final Day at the 470 Class World Championships
Fickle winds on the final day of the 470 Class World Championships sailed in Zadar, Croatia made it impossible to start
the final race. The positions as they stood yesterday remain unchanged.
New Zealand’s top crew at the World Championships was Shelley Hesson and Linda Dickson, where they finished 15th overall
in the women’s fleet. In the men’s fleet, the Keen brothers – Stephen and Philip, were top New Zealanders, and finished
29th overall.
Andrew Brown and Jamie Hunt finished 37th overall and, Simon Cooke, a former World Champion in the 470 Class, finished
41st. Melinda Henshaw and Jan Shearer finished 41st in the Women’s category.
Unfortunately Brown and Hunt found their form all too late at the regatta. On the last day of actual racing the duo
notched up impressive placing’s with a 1st, 2nd and 2nd in the Silver fleet.
Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page from Australia won the men’s category, sailing a consistent regatta. In a very
competitive fleet that contained sevbr>Womens fleet
Shelley Hesson / Linda Dickson 15th
Melinda Henshaw / Jan Shearer 41st
Mens Fleet
Stephen Keen / Phillip Keen 29th
Andrew Brown / Jamie Hunt 37th
Simon Cooke / Alistair Gair 41st
ENDS