INDEPENDENT NEWS

McLay Moves Back Into Fourth

Published: Thu 21 Jul 2005 07:08 PM
ISAF Youth Worlds Day Four
Date Released: 21 July 2005
From: Jodie Perkins
McLay Moves Back Into Fourth
Blair McLay had a solid day on the water yesterday at the ISAF Youth Worlds to move back up into 4th position overall. The kiwi Laser sailor clocked up his third race win of the regatta in striking distance of a medal with three races remaining.
The Yachting New Zealand Youth Team sailed in big swells in Busan, Korea yesterday with two-metre waves just off the course area. The remainder of the team had mixed results.
Yachting New Zealand 2005 Youth Team
Day Four Standings
Laser - Blair McLay - Torbay Sailing Club - 4th (31 pts)
Laser Radial - Olivia Powrie - Kohimarama Yacht Club - 10th (62 pts)
420 Boys - Peter Burling & Bruce Kennedy - Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club - 15th (80 pts)
420 Girls - Georgina Hill & Michelle Kennedy - Kohimarama Yacht Club - 18th (108 pts)
Mistral Board Boys - Antonio Cozzolino - Kohimarama Yacht Club - 17th (108 pts)
Mistral Board Girls - Steffanie Williams - Kohimarama Yacht Club - 11th (72 pts)
Hobie 16 - Rory & Kelly Godman - Burkes St Leonard Yacht Club, Dunedin - 10th (59 pts)
McLay from Torbay Sailing Club won race 9 yesterday at the ISAF Youth Worlds and improved his overall standing to 4th. He now sits two points behind 3rd and three points behind 2nd and will be hoping to finish the regatta with confidence. Giles Scott from Great Britain has improved as the regatta progresses and now has a handy four point leading margin on the Laser fleet.
Olivia Powrie also had a solid day of racing and after race nine is now in 10th in the 31-strong Radial fleet. Clear leader in the Radials, Paige Railey of USA was disqualified in race nine, but is able to discard the race score and still holds a six point lead over Xu Lijia of China.
420 Coach Andrew Brown reports that while he saw improvements in the performance of the kiwi 420 sailors, this was unfortunately not reflected in the results. Peter Burling and Bruce Kennedy are 15th overall, while Georgina Hill and Michelle Kennedy remain steady in 18th.
"I was happy to see some improvement in the sailors racing today, and with some more solid tactics around the course the guys and girls can finish the regatta on a high note," says Brown. "Peter and Bruce had a great catch-up in the days first race, coming back from a poor start to finish 5th."
The Mistral sailors took on huge swell resulting from the recent typhoon to strike Taiwan which was compounded on the shallow water of the inner course where Mistral racing takes place. Steffanie Williams ended the day with a good race and retains 11th spot. Antonio Cozzolino remains in 18th.
Rory and Kelly Godman claimed an 8th and 9th in the 12 boat Hobie fleet. "They showed really good speed downwind but they lost all their gain upwind, unable to sail their boat as well through the waves as the other sailors," says Paul Page.
Three races remain for all those sailing at the 2005 ISAF Youth Worlds in Korea. Two are scheduled for today while the final race and prize-giving takes place on Friday.
Principal sponsor of the team is NZL Yachting Trust. Further support from NZAOS, The Southern Trust, ASB Bank, Line 7 and Endeavour Eyewear is also greatly appreciated.
ENDS

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