Issue date
New Zealand has won gold and bronze at the 2014 49er and 49erFX European Championships in Helsinki with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke successfully defending their title and Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech taking bronze also repeating their 2013 performance.
49er and 49erFX
Today in Helsinki Peter Burling and Blair Tuke sealed the deal to win the 2014 European title for the Olympic men’s skiff class in commanding fashion.
Hitting their stride on day two of the six day regatta the kiwi duo won ten of the 16 races sailed in Helsinki ending with a massive 22 point margin over anyone else in the fleet.
The men are delighted. “It was another great day for us today, finishing with a 1, 3, 1 in the three theatre style races,” says Tuke.
“It is an awesome way to finish off what has been a really solid week for us here in Helsinki.”
“We came out with intent this afternoon, wanting to wrap it up as quickly as possible- doing that after race two. After a few quick congrats we got back into it and won the last race to top it off!”
Germany’s Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel came away with the silver medal and Great Brtiain’s Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign the bronze. Australia’s Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen faltered on the final day with a messy capsize in the first race and getting pushed off the podium to finish 4th by the narrowest of margins.
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech faced more of a challenge to hold their overnight lead for the 2014 49erFX title with the classy Brazilians and Danes in striking distance.
The kiwis finished with a 3, 9, 6 in their three quick-fire races today returning them the bronze medal. Sharing the same 60 points total with the Brazilians, Maloney and Meech only just missed the silver medal on count-back.
Ida Neilsen and Marie Olsen (DEN) defended their European title with an excellent final day, and Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) snuck through for the silver medal.
Here you can view the video from day 6
To download more great action photos from today click here
2014 49er and 49erFX European Championships, Helsinki, Finland
What: Olympic skiff classes (Men’s and Women’s)
New Zealand’s Final results
49er: (83 boats)
Gold Medal Peter Burling and Blair Tuke
30th (2nd Silver fleet) Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski
53rd (25th Silver fleet) Logan Dunning-Beck and Jack Simpson
55th (27th Silver fleet) Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock
49erFX: (51 boats)
Bronze medal Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech
28th Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland
NZL Sailing Team Coaches: Jez Fanstone and Hamish Willcox
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
