Silver Medal for Kiwi Sailor in Spain

by Zoe Hawkins

Next to world championships and Olympic medals, a podium finish at The Princess Sofia Mapfre Trophy in Palma, Spain, is one of the most coveted achievements for Olympic level sailors.

This weekend 25-year old Aucklander Mike Bullot earned a silver medal in the Laser class at the regatta. In a fleet of 134 boats he secured five top ten finishes and 64 points, placing him just six points behind the GBR victor Nick Thompson, and five points ahead of the third placegetter Stipanovic Tonci of Croatia.

Racing concluded on Friday night New Zealand time with an intense battle in the Medal Race staging the best top ten sailors in each class against each other, for double points. After a slow start Mike, who placed fifth in the 2008 Laser World Championships, and second in the Sail Melbourne Regatta last December, fought hard and ultimately placed third in this race, and secured the silver medal.

In final standings Mike's teammate Josh Junior finished in eleventh, and Andy Maloney 23rd.

Sara Winther finished up 13th in the Laser Radial class, and Justine Sellars placed 18th in the women's RS:X boardsailing division that Barbara Kendall won at this event in 2007.

The Princesa Sofia Mapfre Trophy will now conclude with the prize giving ceremony in presence of the Spanish Royal family's regatta patron.

The next event for our Olympic class sailors is the Hyeres World Cup, starting on 19 April in France.

Yachting New Zealand