Issue date
It was light and shifty again in Oman for day four of the 2013 Laser World Championships where kiwi campaigners Sam Meech, Andy Maloney and Thomas Saunders are all fighting it out in the gold fleet.
Just one race was possible after postponements and big shifts meant selecting the right side of the course was critical and the majority of the top placed sailors recorded a race where they crossed the line outside the top ten.
Photo by Oman Sail: Andy Maloney in action in Oman
Sam Meech has edged into the top ten as racing proceeds to the final day. A 10th on the water today sees him creep up one position in the overall standings to 10th.
Both Andy Maloney and Thomas Saunders were among those who suffered in the difficult conditions coming away with a 33rd and a 39th respectively.
Both remain inside the top twenty of the quality 126 strong fleet of sailors in Oman and with two races yet to come they will be focussed on rounding out the six day regatta with some top race finishes. Maloney is in 16th and Saunders is in 20th.
The official report describes today’s conditions; ‘Light winds and big shifts once again kept both race officials and sailors on their toes with the forecast of a major storm during the afternoon putting time pressures on the course setters. But after one Gold fleet race and a shortened Silver fleet circuit, the fleet was sent back to shore as lightning started to strike at Musannah beach.’
‘After a morning postponement lasting almost two hours, the Gold fleet were sent off with the wind speed hovering around the six knot mark and the shifts creating uncertainty on the start line.’
Overall leader, Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, retains his place atop the standings after a 12th today, Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus is in 2nd and Sweden’s Jesper Stalheim is in 3rd.
The Championship concludes on Saturday in Oman with two races planned and the world champion for 2013 set to be crowned.
2013 Laser World Championships, Muscat, Oman
New Zealand’s standings after day four (total fleet 126)
10th Sam Meech (16, 26, 7, 15, 17, 1, 2, 8, 10)
16th Andy Maloney (7, 7, 8, 19, 5, 23, 22, 5, 33)
20th Thomas Saunders (15, 4, 11, 2, 22, 21, 44, 6, 39)
101st George Lane
104th Michael Cate
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
