Issue date
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have climbed into 2nd overall and are assured of a podium finish at the 2014 470 Open European Championships in Athens with just the top ten medal race remaining.
Photo: Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie in action in Athens © Nikos Alevromytis
Today, on what was the penultimate day of the six day regatta, the reigning world champions scored a 4th and a 5th to overtake Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) on the leader-board.
The gold medal, while not out of reach of the kiwis, is a challenging seven points away. Overall leaders, Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar from Austria, are clear ahead and sailing well.
Always looking for perfection Jo Aleh says; “We had an ok day, could have been better, but wasn't at all bad. We sailed a good two races overall with a few mistakes here and there that cost us a little more than we might have liked.”
“It was tricky conditions - trying to work out what was working, what wasn't and where to take leverage, where to be conservative.”
“We probably erred on the conservative side, with a 4th and a 5th, not a stellar day, but enough to guarantee us a top three finish overall whatever happens in tomorrow’s medal race.”
“Tomorrow is looking like a slightly interesting day with storms and rain forecast, so we will see what we get. Crossing fingers for good wind and good weather.”
Just one double-points medal race for each of the 470 Men and 470 Women will finalize the podiums for the 470 European Championship and 470 Open European Championship titles. The 470 Women Medal Race gets underway first at 1400 hours local time in Greece.
There will be live streaming from the Medal Races… check http://europeans.470.org for details.
New Zealand’s men’s pair Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox have wrapped up the regatta in 23rd place overall after a 21st and a 15th in today’s races.
2014 Men’s and Women’s 470 European Championships, Athens, Greece
What: Olympic double-handed dinghy classes (Men’s and women’s)
When: Thursday July 10th - Tuesday July 15th
New Zealand’s current standings
Women’s 470
2nd Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie 42 points (5, 3, 17, 11, 5, 3, 2, 4, 4, 5)
Men’s 470
23rd Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (3, 21, 19, 22, 27, 18, 8, 23, 21, 15)
NZL Sailing Team Coaches: Nathan Handley and Pete Evans
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
