Issue date
New Zealand dominated on day five of the 2013 49er and 49erFX World Championships and the kiwi team goes into the final day of the regatta lying 1st and 2nd in the 49er and 1st in the 49erFX.
After four days of super light and tricky winds in Marseille, France the breeze finally kicked in for the penultimate day of the six day regatta and the kiwis truly came to the fore.
At the end of the day Peter Burling and Blair Tuke lead the 49er fleet with a 12 point gap to team-mates Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski in 2nd place. Meanwhile Alex Maloney and Molly Meech retain the lead in the 49erFX with a nine point margin, and the New Zealanders are in the hunt for two Olympic class World Championship titles.
But the schedule prescribes three double points medal races on the final day of the regatta, so there are plenty of points on offer and the kiwis will really need to stay on their game.
“Good to stretch our legs today and a couple of opportunities to do better today, but all in all a good day,” said Tuke. “We're just getting the boat shipshape and ready for tomorrow. We're happy with how we're going in theatre-style racing and how we're sailing. We're both really excited about the chance of winning a world championship. We haven't won a world title since our junior days so we're very motivated.”
Men’s Coach Hamish Willcox reports on the 49er Gold fleet racing; “There was lots of action with some of the less experienced teams who had made it into the finals during the light wind period really struggling today! We saw a lot of capsized boats.”
Burling and Tuke had a 2, 1, 9, 2 scorecard today, Hansen and Porebski went 6, 6, 1, 10. Willcox continues, “The kiwi boys really rose to the occasion and managed to have the second and third best days of any crews (after the Aussie Olympic champions), winning a race apiece on the way.”
“Both teams stayed out of trouble and their boat skills were awesome. 20 minute target races meant for fast and furious racing with little rest in between.”
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech had their poorest race of the series in today’s opening race, but the young up-and-comers recovered quickly to return three top three finishes after that and hold their overall lead as they go into the medal race day.
Their Coach in Marseille, Nathan Handley reports; “Four races today the first one in five to ten knots with the wind moving around a lot. The girls had a 15th -not such a good start for the day but really hard conditions.”
“Then the Wind came up eight to 13 knots had a 3rd, 3rd, then a 1st, so all up pretty good day. Medal racing tomorrow and the girls have a nine point lead which means not much as we have three medal races with double points and no discards. Anything could happen!”
With just the medal races remaining the world titles for the Olympic skiff classes are set to be decided tomorrow in Marseille, France on Sunday 29th September.
49er and 49erFX World Championships
New Zealand’s standings after day five
Men’s 49er -95 boats
1stPeter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL Sailing Team) – 48 points
2ndMarcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (NZL Sailing Team) – 60 points
43rd Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock (22nd in Silver fleet)
Women’s 49erFX – 53 boats
1st Alex Maloney and Molly Meech – 56 points
27th Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland (7th in silver fleet)
Links:
Regatta website
Event Schedule, Overview and Media Coverage information
Yachting New Zealand website
NZL Sailing Team on Facebook
NZL Sailing Team sailor profiles
About the NZL Sailing Team
NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who share the ultimate goal to win Olympic medals for New Zealand at the Rio Games in 2016.
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 contact
Jodie Bakewell-White
Communications Manager, Yachting New Zealand
E. jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz
M. 021 709 065
