Wednesday, 26 March 2008

Day Two Laser Radial Mens and Youth Worlds

by Olivia Powrie

Summer seemed to be trying to hold on this morning as sunshine greeted the competitors on day two of the men’s and youth contests. Being New Zealand this didn’t last long but where it counted, the weather came through again. Another day of steady 12-15 knot north-easterly breezes allowed the race committee to get another two races for each fleet away.

Starting first again today in moderate seas were the men’s youth fleet. Replicating Matt Vincent’s great start, Andy Maloney (NZL) produced two wins today giving him a comfortable nine point lead. Brazilian Guilherme Pereira moved into second place with a sixth and a fifth giving him fifteen points, just ahead of Sam Meech (NZL) on sixteen points in third place.

In the women’s fleet Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) retained her lead today, after being very consistent with a string of seconds she posted her first win of the regatta reveling in the conditions the day brought. 'I was happy with my seconds and being so consistent but I sorted my downwind in the second race today and was pleased to get a win.'

Gabrielle King (AUS) held onto second place with a first and a seventh, while Claire Dennis (USA) leapt up the scoreboard having had a did not finish in race two reinstated with a seventh. She scored a ninth and sixth today to sit in third place.

In the men’s fleet, world ranked Laser sailors Michael Leigh (CAN) and Brad Funk (USA) have moved away from the fleet, points are still close between the pair, with Michael scoring two wins today and sitting on six points and Brad scoring two seconds and sitting on eight points.

Kiwi James Sandall is hanging on to third place on twenty-seven points.

Takapuna Worlds

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