Cushla Hume-Merry, from Wellington, winner of the Bronze Medal in the Laser Radial class. Image copyright onEdition.
Report from Jodie Bakewell-White
New Zealand has won two bronze medals and finished second in the Volvo Trophy battle for overall team performance at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships just concluded in Denmark.
Medals came for Sam Meech in the Laser and Cushla Hume-Merry in the Laser Radial, with two 4th placings in the double-handed 29er classes.
“Although we are disappointed that we didn't win the Volvo Trophy we are pleased to have finished second. It has been a tight battle with the Aussies throughout the regatta”, said Marty Watson, Yachting New Zealand High Performance and Youth Director.
“The team’s first priority today was to secure medals. Sam and Cushla have done themselves proud, and of course we are all very proud of them as well. For some sailors in the team the regatta has had its disappointments, but on whole I think the team has represented themselves and their country well”, said Watson.
The decider for the Laser bronze came down to the final race. In an exciting on water battle Sam Meech from Tauranga managed to work his way into a controlling position over his Danish counterpart. The Danish sailor was unfortunate to then receive his second yellow flag for the regatta, forcing him out of the race, and leaving Meech to take the bronze medal.
“I didn’t have the best first beat, but I managed to pick up the Danish sailor fairly early on in the race”, Meech said. “I was within a couple of places of him which was all I needed to do”, he added.
“I didn’t actually see the jury give him the flag... just one minute he was there and all of a sudden he was gone.”
In the Laser Radial fleet Cushla Hume-Merry from Wellington was sitting in 3rd overall going into the final race. On the water her hopes of advancing into second place for the silver were lost when Spain’s Olympic and ISAF Youth Worlds representative, Susana Romero, jumped ahead at the start. Hume-Merry managed to keep back a challenge from the Canadian Girl, keeping a close lock on her through heavy traffic, to finish ahead by one place and a comfortable points lead for 3rd place overall in the regatta.
Hume-Merry said when she returned to the beach, “I am just so happy to be a Youth World’s medallist at last.”
This is her third year at this event in the single handed women’s division, and her most successful to date.
Both Kiwi 29er crews in the girls and boys divisions finished in 4th place overall. Despite just missing out on the medals their performances were significant in assisting the team’s overall effort to finish second behind Great Britain in the top team battle.
On the girls 29er course, Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher did all they could to lift their standing, and fought hard to finish 4th on the line in today’s race. This result lifted them to 4th overall in their first 29er regatta together.
Paul Snow-Hansen and Ben Goodwin sailing in the boys 29er fleet in Denmark. Image copyright onEdition.
Also sailing their first 29er regatta together, Paul Snow-Hansen and Ben Goodwin managed a 4th place overall after another strong race result. “Ben and I felt more and more comfortable together as the regatta went on,” Snow-Hansen said, “We are pretty happy with the way we sailed towards the end.”
Josh Nixon in the Boys RS:X windsurfing showed obvious disappointment with his result, finishing in 8th overall, but remained philosophical about the regatta.
Josh Nixon sailing in the boys RS:X fleet in Denmark. Image copyright onEdition.
“Of course I am disappointed,” Nixon said. “It is never a great way to start a regatta, using up all your drops before you get a chance to start a race. I have trained hard for this event and I know I can do better than my results show.”
Jazmine Lynch sailing in the girls RS:X class in Denmark. Image copyright onEdition.
The competitors were awarded their medals and trophies at the Closing Ceremony at the Musikhuset in Århus, Denmark on Friday, bringing the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships to a close. Next year’s event will be held in Buzios, Brazil on 9-18 July 2009.
2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships
New Zealand’s Final Results
3rd - Sam Meech (Laser)
3rd - Cushla Hume-Merry (Laser Radial)
4th - Paul Snow-Hansen & Ben Goodwin (Boys 29er)
4th - Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher
7th - Francisco Lardies & David Hazard (Multihull)
8th - Josh Nixon (Boys RS:X)
8th - Jazmine Lynch (Girls RS:X)
Volvo Team Trophy Results
1st Great Britain
2nd New Zealand
3rd Australia
2008 Volvo Youth Worlds
No comments:
Post a Comment