Sunday 31 January 2010

Rolex Miami OCR: New Zealand's 49er Team into Medal Race


Peter Burling & Blair Tuke. Image copyright Walter Cooper/US SAILING.

by Jodie Bakewell-White

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will sail in the 49er Medal Race at Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 2010 on the last day of the regatta tomorrow. The ISAF Sailing world Cup event ends today for the NZL Sailing Team Women’s Match-Race crew; they have finished in 7th place among 23 boats.

The 49er duo goes into tomorrow’s medal race in 8th place having just completed three races today. A black flag in the second race of the day was a factor in their slip from 6th back to 8th place, and the pair is five points behind the French boat in 7th, but now thirty points back from 6th.

Assured of a top ten finish in this ISAF World Sailing Cup Regatta, a good race tomorrow could see them make up the gap to 7th. This, their first season in the 49er class, the young kiwis have already delivered some excellent race results during this regatta, demonstrating they have what it takes to win races.

Aussie rivals Nicki Souter and crew today defeated New Zealanders Samantha Osborne, Raynor Smeal and Jenna Hansen knocking them out of the quarter-finals in the Women’s match-racing. The kiwis went on to race off for a final position, beaten by Whitty from Australia, and then taking a win from Meldgaard of Denmark, they secured a final result of 7th overall

Racing in the 2.4 Metre class concluded today with New Zealand’s Joshua McKenzie-Brown finishing in 19th place in the 28-strong fleet.

Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland Regatta

Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland 2010 kicks off next Thursday in Auckland with most of New Zealand’s Olympic class sailors entered for this ISAF Grade One event on home waters. Kohimarama Yacht Club hosts the event which features Olympic and Invited classes.

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.

Yachting New Zealand
Rolex Miami OCR

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