Issue date
What a difference a day can make – at the end of day two New Zealand now leads the 2013 SAP 49er European Championships with a further two kiwi crews placed in the top five across the Men’s and Women’s racing.
Meanwhile Natalia Kosinska holds 2nd place at the 2013 RS:X Women’s European Championships running concurrently in Brest, France.
Better breeze and more races meant for big changes in the men’s standings at the Olympic class regatta on now in Arhus, Denmark. Another four days of competition remain.
All three men’s fleets sailed four races in solid conditions today, the kiwis Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski looking dominant with two wins and two 2nds on their course to completely turn the tables and take the overall lead with a six point margin.
Video interview with Marcus and Josh after today’s racing here.
“Today was great we had four races and nice breeze and waves so it was good racing and good fun,” says Josh Porebski after racing. “It was a really competitive day. The kiwi teams won every race in our fleet so we were battling with them and in a couple of races we were battling with lots of people so it was really good racing and heaps of fun.”
With another four days to be sailed in a new and experimental format the challenge is on for the kiwis to stay at the top. When asked what it will take, skipper Marcus Hansen responds, “To be consistent. It’s a long regatta, so just keep getting good results on the board and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke also found form on day two scoring race wins, in races three and six of the series, and adding single digit results in the other two from today to see them fly into 5th position after lying 35th at the day’s outset.
This is the first major international regatta back in the boat for New Zealand’s Olympic silver medallists and they will be aiming to continue with today’s excellent form through the remaining four days.
On the Women’s skiff course the 49erFX fleet got in three races today Alex Maloney and Molly Meech coming away with 2, 10, 3 and now lying 5th overall on equal points to the Brazilian crew in 4th. At the end of day two the local Danish crew of Nielsen and Olsen have opened up a twelve point lead on the fleet sailing away with two wins and a 2nd in today’s races.
In France the 2013 RS:X European Championships rolled on with New Zealand’s Natalia Kosinska holding 2nd overall in the open Women’s fleet where 42 board sailors are racing.
With a 6th and two 4ths in racing today Kosinska is demonstrating her ability to foot it with the world’s best and she will be aiming to continue on this track as the regatta heads into the business end over coming days. Conditions were tough in Brest with the wind shifting through 30 degrees and ranging between 6 and 13 knots.
"Im pleased with my preparation for the regatta where I spent three weeks training with the Polish and training partner Maayan from Israel," says Natalia Kosinska. "This has given me the opportunity to be physically prepared as well as sailing fast and undestanding the range of conditions in Brest."
The RS:X fleets have rest day now before gold fleet racing gets underway. Both regattas run over six days with final results set to be decided on Sunday 7th July.
2013 SAP 49er European Championships
New Zealand’s standings after day two
5th Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (10, 9, 6, 2, 10, 3)
(Women’s fleet full results)
1st Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (4, 22, 2, 1, 1, 2)
5th Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (18, 9, 1, 9, 6, 1)
51st Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock (6, 8, 15, 22, 25, 20)
(Men’s fleet full results)
2013 RS:X European Championships
2nd Natalia Kosinska (Women) (2, 5, 7, 6, 4, 4)
30th Xanthe Bowater (Women Youth)
42nd Alexander Hart (Men Youth)
(Full results from France)
Links:
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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
