ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami: Kiwi women lead the way

New Zealand still leads in the Women’s 470 and 49erFX after day three of 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami where gold fleet racing got underway today.

Both of New Zealand’s women’s double-handed crews extended their overall leads with Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (pictured above © Walter Cooper) winning both of their races today and Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech using their four races to open an even wider points gap on the chasing pack.

After a double-gun display on day three Aleh and Powrie have stretched their leading margin out to nine points over Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR), who managed a 3^rd and a 5th today.

“We had a nice consistent day three here in Miami, the breeze was anywhere from 12-20 knots, rather gusty and shifty and a little tricky at times, but we sailed well overall to come home with two wins,” reports Jo Aleh.   

“We came from behind in both races, with good pace, some smart down-winds and good second beats, as well as just sending it on the reaches! Great fun.”

There are two races a day for the women’s 470 gold fleet, over the coming two days before the top ten in the fleet sail their medal race on Saturday in Miami.

Aleh describes what conditions they’re expecting; “Looks like a softer day tomorrow, and we are racing slightly later in the day, listening to the other classes who have been racing after us, it sounds like the wind gets shiftier and crazier as the day gets on.”

Skiff sailors Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech are now 25 points in front of reigning 49erFX world champs Martine Grael and Kahene Kunze (BRA).

While they blotted their single-digit consistency in today’s opening two races the kiwis hit back in races eight and nine with a 2^nd and a 5^th to keep them well out in front in the women’s skiff.

In the Men’s 470 Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox hold onto 4^th overall which they share with the Spanish crew both on 32 points. The New Zealanders were 4^th and 15^th in their two races today.

Elsewhere the day produced mixed for the NZL Sailing Team who have two days remaining to earn a place in their respective top ten and a medal race start.

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders sailed three races today in the Nacra fleet relinquishing their overall lead and dropping back to 7^th overall after placing 29^th, 14^th and 28^th on the water today.

Sara Winther is in 12^th overall in the Women’s Laser Radial, while in the Men’s Laser fleet kiwis Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Mike Bullot are lying 11^th, 17^th and 27^th respectively.

Racing continues tomorrow with three days of competition remaining to determine the podium placings.  

ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami runs from 26-31 January and 856 sailors from 63 nations are competing across the ten Olympic and three Paralympic events. It is the second regatta in the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Series which includes events in Melbourne (AUS), Miami (USA), Hyeres (FRA), Weymouth (GBR), Qingdao (CHN) and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami
New Zealand’s standings after day three
Full results here

1^st Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie - Women’s 470 (2, 2, 1, 7, 1, 1)
1^st Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX (1, 2, 2, 5, 9, 21, 11, 2, 5)
4^th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470 (12, 3, 11, 2, 4, 15)
7^th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 (3, 1, 2, DSQ, 2, 7, 29, 14, 28)
12^th Sara Winther – Laser Radial (2, 2, 16, 9, 26, 13)
11^th Andy Maloney – Laser (4, 1, 10, 4, 18, 29, 24)
17^th Sam Meech – Laser (DNC, DNC, 21, 2, 4, 31)
27^th Mike Bullot – Laser (DNC, 7, 12, 26, 14, 33, 8)
28^th Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland – 49erFX (DNC, 21, 15, 32, 24, 33, 33, 24, 7)

Regatta website