At the finish line in the 2.4M class. Image copyright Rolex/Dan Nerney.
by Jodie Bakewell-White
Members of the NZL Sailing Team at 2010 Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta returned mixed results today. Day three of racing has concluded with racing resuming tomorrow and medals set to be decided on January 30th in Miami.
Lying 11th at the outset of day three of racing in the 49er class, young kiwi pair Peter Burling and Blair Tuke were on fire today with two race wins and a second place. They take a dramatic leap up the leader board into 6th overall.
Today the young pair has returned consistency which challenged them over the first two days at this event, and they will be hoping they can continue the race winning form.
Opening their international 49er campaign in Australia in December, Burling and Tuke recently won the 49er North American Championships, also sailed in Miami.
At this ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta the 49er event consists of a five-day opening series – with three days and nine races already completed - and then a double point medal race. The top ten finishers in the opening series advance to the medal race.
Meanwhile a strong start from the Women’s Match-Racing crew in round robin racing yesterday didn’t continue and the trio were unable to secure a win in their three races sailed today amongst tough competition in the gold fleet round robin which determines seeding for the quarter-finals. There’s a long way to go yet however, as Osborne, Smeal and Hansen from New Zealand will tackle another two races tomorrow morning to wrap up the gold fleet round robin before quarter-finals get underway in the afternoon.
Women’s Match Racing makes its Rolex Miami OCR debut in 2012, replacing the Women’s Fleet Racing event, reflecting the change of discipline for the 2012 Olympic Games. The discipline of match racing consists of two identical boats racing against each other in a one on one duel, with round robin racing followed by knock-out quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final between two boats.
Joshua McKenzie-Brown is representing New Zealand in the 2.4metre Paralympics class also featuring in the line-up at Miami. After five races sailed, McKenzie-Brown from Auckland’s Kohimarama Yacht Club, is in 20th place overall in the fleet of 28.
The next major international regatta to feature the members of the NZL Sailing Team is Trofeo SAR Princess Sofia Regatta on in Mallorca, Spain starting 27th March.
About the regatta:
From January 24 - 30, 2010, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR returns to the waters of Biscayne Bay, bringing together the worlds top Olympic and Paralympic class competitors. Marking the 21st running of the event, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR is a mainstay on the winter circuit for sailors who are campaigning for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games. The event is part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, a world-class annual series for Olympic sailing.
Yachting New Zealand
Rolex Miami OCR
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