NZL Sailing Team take early lead in three events

NZL Sailing Team take early lead in three events at 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth

Racing is underway at 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth Regatta and it has been a cracking day one for the kiwis in the Women’s 470, Finn, Laser and 49erFX events.

Day one produced sunny north easterly breezes and three NZL Sailing Team crews have the early lead in their events including Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (Womens’ 470), Andy Maloney (Laser) and Andrew Murdoch (Finn). Meanwhile Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech are lying 2nd in the 49erFX.

Laser and Radial

The Laser fleet were among the first to hit the water in Weymouth today and they sailed two races in the uncharacteristic north easterly breeze.

25 year old Murrays Bay Sailing Club sailor Andy Maloney was up to the challenge and has opened the five day regatta in dream style with a win and a 2nd to lead in the men’s single handed dinghy.

“I had a solid start to the Weymouth Sailing World Cup today with a 1, 2,” says Maloney. “Glamour conditions out in the bay with a shifty 10-17 knots and nice waves to surf downwind. I’m looking forward to more of the same tomorrow.”

Remaining NZL Sailing Team Laser sailors Michael Bullot, Thomas Saunders and Sam Meech are lying 15th, 20th and 21st respectively in the 40 boat fleet.

In the Laser Radial Sara Winther is in 16th overall, while Susannah Pyatt is 23rd.

470 Women’s and Men’s

Two wins from two races on day one in Weymouth and Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have the lead in the Women’s 470.

Jo Aleh talks about the day, “Great breeze and some very fun racing just off the shore; rather shifty and puffy. There was some big spread over the fleet by the finish of each race, which is great when you are comfortably ahead to look back and take it all in.”

“It was a rather solid day for us. Some questionable starts I have to admit - the tack and dip people approach is not usually so effective, but it worked today, and we came away with a 1, 1 score- line which is a nice way to start!”

“There’s plenty more sailing to go, we’re looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow morning.”

In the Men’s 470 Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox carry a black flag for race one, but bounced back with a 3rd place in race two. The opening race disqualification hampers their position on the leader-board and they’re lying 22nd at the end of day one.

Finn

Three years ago at this venue Andrew Murdoch sailed for New Zealand in the Laser class at the London Olympic Games, and today he opened this ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta with two great races to lead the Finn class.

A 3rd in race one followed by a 2nd in race two gives him a points tally of 5 and the lead over France’s Jonathan Lobert who is four points back.

It was New Zealand 1-2 in race two on the Finn course today with Josh Junior taking the win and Murdoch the 2nd. Junior, from Worser Bay Boating Club, placed 15th in the first race and he lies 6th overall.

49er and 49erFX

Three races were sailed for both the men’s and women’s skiff and Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech have made a n excellent start to the regatta in the 49erFX.

3rd in the first two races, then 11th in race three the kiwi skiff sailors from Murrays Bay Sailing Club (Maloney) and Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club (Meech) hold 2nd overall after day one.

Denmark’s Maiken Foght Schütt and Anne-Julie Schütt lead, three points in front of the NZL Sailing Team crew.

An uncharacteristic start from Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 12, 7, 25 - in the 49er sees them outside the top ten in 12th place after the opening day in Weymouth. Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski did better and are in 7th after recording 4-37-10 on the water today.

Nacra 17

Young Aon Fast Track sailors Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson sailed well on day one of their first ever ISAF Sailing World Cup event. A measurement infringement for the new combination meant their two mid fleet results in races one and two incurred a points penalty and a lesson learned.

In race three the pair capsized the Nacra 17 in the blustery, big wave conditions breaking their rig and sending them on a mercy dash to collect and replacement to ensure they’re back on water tomorrow.

New Zealand’s top Nacra crew of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders elected to withdraw from this regatta while Jones recovers from a minor injury.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for more strong wind conditions.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth (10-14 June 2015)
New Zealand’s current standings

1st Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, Women’s 470 (1, 1)
22nd Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox, Men’s 470 (BFD, 3)
7th Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, 49er (4, 37, 10)
12th Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, 49er (12, 7, 25)
2nd Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech, 49erFX (3, 3, 11)
1st Andrew Murdoch, Finn (3, 2)
6th Josh Junior, Finn (15, 1)
1st Andy Maloney, Laser (1, 2)
15th Michael Bullot, Laser (9, 12)
20th Thomas Saunders, Laser (8, 22)
21st Sam Meech, Laser (17, 24)
16th Sara Winther, Laser Radial (22, 15)
23rd Susannah Pyatt, Laser Radial (28, 18)
25th Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson, Nacra 17 (17, 29, 32)

Racing resumes tomorrow at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland. Medal Races on Sunday 14 June will bring the regatta to a close.

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