Star boats in action in Kieler Woche. Supplied copyright image.
by Jodie Bakewell-White
Kieler Woche Olympic Classes Regatta is underway in Germany with the first day of racing just completed. Eleven New Zealanders sailing in seven boats are in Germany for the ISAF Sailing World Cup event which runs over five days.
“First we scheduled three races for today, but in not very easy conditions we are happy to have two races in most of the classes on the score”, said Jobst Richter, Chairman of the Kieler Woche Race Committee.
Coming home first in race one for the 153 strong Laser fleet, Mike Bullot (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) made an excellent start to the regatta. He followed the win with a 4th place in race two which puts him in 4th place overall after day one.
On form in 2009, reigning Olympic champ, Paul Goodison of Great Britain made an enviable start, recording two wins on day one giving him the early lead in the Lasers. Matt Coutts (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) suffered in the standings due to a black flag in race one but came back in race two with a 5th place on the water.
New Zealand’s new Star duo of Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) has also made a solid start on the first day of Kieler Woche. The Stars only managed one race on day one and the kiwis were 5th amongst the 43 boat fleet which means they have 5th place overall. The locals have the early edge with two German crews sitting at the top of the leader board after race one for the class.
The fast paced 49er class has gone without consistent New Zealand representation at international events over recent years, so it’s exciting to see three kiwi entries in the 50 boat fleet at Kieler Woche 2009.
David McDiarmid and Andrew Archibald (Mangonui Cruising Club) have made the best start of the kiwi crews with a 6th, 4th and 5th in racing on day one - they sit in 5th place overall. Peter Burling (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) and Blair Tuke (Kerikeri Cruising Club) are in 10th overall after a 7th, 12th and 3rd in racing overnight. The only South Island crew at Kieler Woche, Peter Graham and Iain Begg (Ravensbourne Boating Club) are in 32nd place.
Veteran Olympic campaigner Dan Slater (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) is back in action in the Finn class and is in 10th place. Up against 62 other sailors Slater and his competitors only sailed one race on the first day of the regatta.
Racing resumes in Germany overnight tonight and concludes on Wednesday 24th June. Visit the regatta website for full results and more information.
New Zealand's Results after Day One
Laser (153 boats)
5th Mike Bullot (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
89th Matt Coutts (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Star (43 boats)
Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
49er (50 boats)
5th David McDiarmid and Andrew Archibald (Mangonui Cruising Club)
10th Peter Burling (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) and Blair Tuke (Kerikeri Cruising Club)
32nd Peter Graham and Iain Begg (Ravensbourne Boating Club)
Finn (63 boats)
10th Dan Slater (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Kieler Woche
Yachting New Zealand
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