Team Jolly - Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie - lead the Women's 470 class at the Delta Lloyd Regatta. Image copyright Sander van der Borch
by Jodie Bakewell-White
Two bullets and a 3rd from Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie sees the Olympic champions take the early lead in the Women’s 470 class at Delta Lloyd Regatta which got underway overnight in Medemblik, Netherlands.
“It was a bit of a typically Medemblik regatta day - it was raining, and a little cold... But the racing made up for it,” reports Jo Aleh. “We got three races done in a very efficient manner! Took us a little while to warm up (literally) and we slowly improved throughout the day with a 3rd in the first race, a tight 1st in the second, and then won the last race by a leg.. that’s more like it!”
“The breeze looks great for tomorrow, and we will see if we can still remember to sail in big winds!! Hopefully no swimming… Too cold for that!”
Men’s 470 pair Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox also made a cracking start and sit in 2nd overall at the end of day one; “Race committee did a great job at banging three races out in a shifty, rainy, freezing 8 to 16 knots,” report Paul and Dan.
“Currently lying in second place after a 3, 5, 2. Almost had a race win in the last one, just being overtaken on the last mark after gybing a moment too late. Very happy with how we are going, looking forward to some more breeze tomorrow.”
Over on the Laser course Andy Maloney and Sam Meech are racing.
Andy Maloney reports; “It isn't often that I can wear a beanie during racing and not overheat! Day 1 of the Delta Lloyd Regatta here in Medemblik was a different story though, with the sub-10 degree air temperature, rain and 10-15 knots of wind.”
“We had three qualifying races; I started the day with a couple of okay results, backed up by a win in the last race of the day.”
Here’s how the NZL Sailing Team fared on day one (of five)…
1st Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie, 470W (3, 1, 1)
2nd Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox, 470M (3, 5, 2)
9th Andy Maloney, Laser (9, 12, 1)
12th Sam Meech, Laser (10, 15, 3)
Aspiring NZL Sailing Team…
8th James Turner and Carl Evans 470M (13, 3, 11)
9th Natalia Kosinska RS:XW (12, 10, 6, 3)
Yachting NZ
