Issue date
ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami is underway and New Zealand holds the early lead in the Women’s 470, 49erFX and the Nacra 17, as well as 2nd place in the Laser class.
Photo © Walter Cooper
The sunny day was interrupted by a massive rain squall and conditions were at times gusty and shifty. Not all fleets completed their scheduled racing and sailors and boats were pushed to their limits.
After day one of the six day regatta, on Biscayne Bay, Miami, New Zeaalnd’s Olympic Champions Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie are at the top of the Women’s 470 leader-board taking two 2nd placings on the water today.
Aleh describes the day; “A rather breezy and exciting opening day of the World Cup regatta here in Miami.”
“Race one was rather hilarious when a big front came through as the fleet rounded the top mark onto the reaching leg, we were in about 6th, and with the boats around us, hoisted the kite and away we went... Only to look back to see the rest of the fleet kite-less and/or upside down.”
Despite the drama of the squall and driving rain they went on to cross in 2nd place, and then the wind dropped to a comparatively light 14-18 knots for race two.
Aleh says, “We had a solid race, slowly working our way back through the fleet after missing the first shift, to collect another 2nd place. So a solid day overall, some great rides, a bit of carnage, all good fun!”
Long-time rivals Hannah Mills and Saskia Clarke (GBR) also started well and hold 2nd place on the 30 boat fleet.
In the 49erFX women’s skiff class just one race took place. The NZL Sailing Team crew of Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech showing they know how to handle the breeze crossed in 1st to take the gun and they go into day two holding the lead.
“Of the 40 teams, just eight of them successfully worked their way around the course to complete the single race of the day,” writes ISAF.
“Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) are two of the most experienced 49erFX competitors around, with well over two years of boat experience behind them. With a range of knowledge behind them they comprehensively claimed the day's race win by more than a minute.”
In the Nacra 17 Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders have had a blinder first day despite the challenging conditions to finish top three in all three of their races, including a bullet in race two. The NZL Sailing Team multihull duo has the overall lead in the quality fleet of 49 boats, after day one of racing in Miami.
The ISAF reports says it all; “Taming the Nacra 17 beast came as a challenge to many of the 49-boat Mixed Multihull fleet. With gusts hitting the 30 knot mark, thrills and spills were inevitable and that was certainly the case with as many as 26 boats either unable to finish the second race or deciding enough was enough in advance of the start.”
Laser sailor Andy Maloney also took a race win today and adding that to a 4th in the first race, he closes the opening day of competition in 2nd place overall.
New Zealand is lying 2nd in the Laser Radial class as well with Sara Winther returning a race win and a 2nd in today’s two races to lie one point behind overall leader .
In the Men’s 470 Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox have made a solid start and avoided calamity. After a 12th and a 3rd in today’s two races they’re in 6th overall.
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 one
Full results here
1st Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie - Women’s 470 (2, 2)
1st Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 (3, 1, 2)
1st Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX (1)
2nd Andy Maloney – Laser (4, 1)
2nd Sara Winther - Laser Radial (2, 1)
6th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470 (12, 3)
45th Logan Dunning-Beck and Jack Simpson – 49er (8, DNC, DNS)
60th Mike Bullot – Laser (DNC, 7)
Sam Meech – Laser (DNC, DNC)
Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland – 49erFX (DNC)
