Issue date
After an arduous seven day series including twelve races for the gold fleet sailors the 2013 Laser World Championships have come to a close at Musannah Beach, Oman.
Just one race was possible on the final day of competition the start gun firing only a few minutes prior to the 3pm final cut off time giving competitors just one more crack on the race track to determine their final fate.
After an incredible performance Brazil’s Robert Scheidt sealed the 2013 Laser World title with a win in the final race. The 40 year has now won the title nine times, today’s victory declared the most special after returning to the single-handed Laser from a stint in the Star class.
Of the New Zealander’s 23 year old Andy Maloney from the (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) came through to place top kiwi at this Olympic class Championship ending the regatta in 11th and equal on points to the sailor in 10th. A 17th in the last race was enough to lift Maloney’s overall position after going into the day lying 14th.
In other results during 2013 Maloney, who is the elder brother of 49erFX World Champion Alexandra, has medalled at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma (gold), Garda and Trentino Week in Italy (gold) and also at Delta Lloyd Regatta in the Netherlands (bronze). He was also part of the NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ that were crowned Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Champions in September this year.
Sam Meech from the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club has concluded the regatta in 13th slipping a few places at the final hurdle when he finished 45th in the last race of the regatta. The 22 year old sailed consistently well through the middle section of the regatta which has been the determining factor in his solid final placing.
Meech, whose sibling Molly is the other half of the 49erFX world title holding duo, has also returned some great results at the major internationals in 2013 with bronze at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma, 5th at Delta Lloyd Regatta and overall victory at Sail for Gold Regatta in Great Britain. Like Maloney, Meech was also a part of the 2013 Red Bull Youth America’s Cup winning team.
Thomas Saunders (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) has finished in 22nd place overall after recording a 33rd in the last race. With some excellent individual race results through the twelve race series the 21 year old up and comer has demonstrated he can foot it with the best.
This regatta was the final Olympic class World Championship regatta for 2013 with many of the NZL Sailing Team currently in New Zealand (or soon returning) for the lead-up to Christmas. A number of the team will be recognised at the 2013 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards which is less than one week from now on Friday 29 November in Auckland.
In 2014 all of the Olympic World Championships will come together at the one venue in Santander, Spain in September. This major milestone regatta is where national qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games is on offer.
2013 Laser World Championships, Muscat, Oman
New Zealand’s final results (total fleet 126)
11th Andy Maloney
13th Sam Meech
22nd Thomas Saunders
102nd Michael Cate
105th George Lane
Links
Regatta website: http://omanlaserworlds2013.com/eng/index.php
NZL Sailing Team on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NZLSailingTeam
Yachting New Zealand website: http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/
NZL Sailing Team sailor profiles: http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/racing/nzl-sailing-team/team-profiles
For more information:
Jodie Bakewell-White
YNZ Communications Manager
Tel. 021 709 065
Email. jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz
