It was a momentous day for the NZL Sailing Team in Rio yesterday when four New Zealand crews sailed their Olympic medal races in phenomenal sailing conditions under the spotlight of the world’s sports fans and media.
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech have won Olympic Silver at their first Games appearance in a thrilling 49erFX medal race showdown which closed out the Rio 2016 Regatta.
Today Peter Burling and Blair Tuke’s four year goal to win Olympic Gold came to fruition as they stood atop the podium on Rio’s Flamenco Beach and were presented their medals.
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have won Olympic Silver at Rio 2016 today and join an elite group of kiwi sailors with two Olympic medals to their name.
After the chaos of Tuesday, when fifteen races were sailed across seven events including three medal races, Wednesday’s schedule looked light – just two medal races for the Women’s and Men’s 470.
However the wind didn’t show up and both Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox will come back and try again tomorrow.
First-time Olympian Sam Meech has won Olympic Bronze in the Laser class pushing off challenges from five-time Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt (BRA) and reigning world champion Nick Thompson (GBR) with a solid medal race performance in Rio today.
After a successful IRC Nationals hosted at Bay of Islands Race week earlier this year, it has been confirmed that Bay Week will again host this prestigious event in 2017 (24-27 January).
Sam Meech will wait another day to sail for an Olympic podium finish after today’s medal race was postponed and then abandoned late in the afternoon in Rio 2016. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have stepped out their lead in the 49er event with one day, (three races) of qualifying to go and women’s skiff pair Alex Maloney and Molly Meech hold 2nd place on a tightly bunched 49erFX leader-board.
With two sports already sold out and three more nearing capacity, Sailing competitors should register now for World Masters Games 2017 to secure their places.
