2014 Laser European Championships Update: Qualifying wraps up for NZL in Croatia

With the breeze back in, the 2014 European Laser Standard and Laser Radial Championships rolled on in Split, Croatia today where five races have now been sailed over three days and the qualifying rounds conclude.

Image: Start line in Croatia on day three © Thom Touw

It was a mixed day at the office for the kiwi team with today’s race results delivering some changes in the overall standings on the leader board for the European Championship title in the men’s Olympic single-handed dinghy. Despite this all four men representing New Zealand in Croatia are within the top third of the 132 boat fleet putting them in the gold fleet from here. 

Andy Maloney has slipped to 20^th overall after today and Mike Bullot is now the best placed of the New Zealand sailors in 11^th position. Bullot opened day three with a 3^rd place following that with a 13^th which becomes his discard.

Maloney’s drop in the standings has come after two races where he finished in the teens – a 14^th and a 16^th.

Sam Meech is in 23^rd with a 7^th and 11^th on the water today, while Thomas Saunders progresses from the qualifying series on a high note with a race win in today’s second race lifting him five places to 40^th.

Brazilian sailing legend Robert Scheidt has taken the outright lead after day three, with local boy Tonci Stipanovic just one point behind.

In the women’s Laser Radial battle Sara Winther is lying 30^th, and while disappointed with her performance on day three (14^th, 43^rd) the North Shore sailor has made the gold fleet. Team-mate Susannah Pyatt is lying 68^th returning her best result of the regatta today with a 7^th place in race five.

Winther says; “Not my best work today, first race was going well, until I made an error which I had to do turns for which cost me five or so places. Then [the] 2nd race was worst race of my life.”

“Time to refresh and go hard for finals!”

Racing continues in Split tomorrow and runs for another three days with the titles set to be decided and medals presented on Saturday 14^th June.

2014 Laser and Laser Radial European Championships
New Zealand’s provisional standings after day three

Laser Standard (Men’s Olympic single-handed class) – 132 entries

11^th Mike Bullot (5, 10, 8, 3, 13)
20^thAndy Maloney, NZL Sailing Team (3, 4, 12, 14, 16)
23^rdSam Meech, NZL Sailing Team (5, 12, 14, 7, 11)
40^thThomas Saunders, NZL Sailing Team (12, 15, 25, 24 1)
 

Laser Radial (Women’s Olympic single-handed class) – 92 entries

30^th Sara Winther (27, 6, 19, 14, 43)
68^th Susannah Pyatt (46, 41, 23, 39, 7)

Links

Regatta website
Yachting New Zealand website
NZL Sailing Team sailor profiles
NZL Sailing Team on Facebook

About the NZL Sailing Team

The NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who have made the top 20% in their most recent (respective) class World Championships or pinnacle event and have shown consistency of performance over the year including other significant Championships.

Yachting New Zealand’s High Performance Programme is focussed on winning medals at the Olympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.

For more information

Jodie Bakewell-White
Yachting New Zealand Communications Manager
Tel. 021 709 065
Email. jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz