Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland 2010 regatta begins 4th February. Supplied image.
by Jodie Bakewell-White
New Zealand’s Olympic class sailing elite are right now gathering at Kohimarama Yacht Club for ISAF Grade One Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland 2010.
So far 144 are entered with registration happening later today and racing set to start at midday Thursday. After four days of racing medallists will be decided late on Sunday, and with plenty of exciting match-ups, this year’s regatta promises not to disappoint.
In the Men’s RS:X fleet our most recent Olympic sailing champion, Tom Ashley is back on the water, this his first regatta after only recently returning to an intensive training schedule after a well deserved breather.
Ranked world number one during 2006 and back in 2003, New Zealand’s Jon-Paul Tobin will also be on the water for Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland. And young Dutch sailor Dorian Rijsselberghe is in Auckland for the regatta, hot off a win in the Men’s RS:X at last week’s ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta Miami OCR.
2008 Olympian Andrew Murdoch recently won the Laser National Championship in Timaru, but not without stiff competition from a strong pool of talent in this Olympic single-handed class. Michael Bullot was extremely strong on the European circuit in 2009 and young up and comers like Sam Meech from Napier, and Josh Junior from Wellington are keeping the more experienced campaigners on their toes.
A small fleet of 49ers is expected, a spectacle missing from the line-up at Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland over recent years. Just back from a Miami where they won the North American 49er Championship, and placed 8th at Miami OCR, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke head the 49er line-up back on home turf this time.
Another exciting inclusion is the Paralympic 2.4 metre class. Racing for the 2.4 metre sailors will be based out of Westhaven Marina.
Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland 2010
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