The 2013 Laser World Championships is proving to be an almighty battle as day three concludes and the six day regatta reaches the half way point in Muscat, Oman.
Photo by Oman Sail: Thomas Saunders in action
Conditions in Muscat on the third day provided decent breeze allowing the race committee to run three races for both fleets catching up on the day two postponement .
Competition is extremely tight among the world’s best Laser campaigners and three New Zealand sailors, including Andy Maloney, Thomas Saunders and Sam Meech all produced some excellent results today including a race win from Meech and a 2nd place from Saunders. Consistency will be the key from here on.
Andy Maloney remains the best placed now lying 13th overall with 46 points. In today’s testing races he placed 19th, 5th and then 23rd.
Meanwhile Thomas Saunders is just three places behind Maloney on the leader-board in 16th with 53 points. Saunders opened with a 2nd place in the first race of the day and was 22nd and then 21st in the subsequent races.
Sam Meech made another astonishing climb up the ranks moving into 17th overall on 56 points after delivering a 15th, 17th and rounding out the day with a convincing race win.
Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, the 40 year old returning to the single-hander from the Star class, is the overall leader from Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) in 2nd place.
The final two qualifying races take place on Wednesday with the finals series starting on Thursday and the last two showdowns set for Saturday.
2013 Laser World Championships, Muscat, Oman
New Zealand’s standings after day three (total fleet 126)
13th Andy Maloney (7, 7, 8, 19, 5, 23)
16th Thomas Saunders (15, 4, 11, 2, 22, 21)
17th Sam Meech (16, 26, 7, 15, 17, 1)
100th Michael Cate
103rd 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