Issue date
Jo Aleh and Olivia (Polly) Powrie have finished fourth at the 470 World Championships which ended overnight in Barcelona, Spain.
Left: Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie leading into a course mark kept pace and pressure on the lead boats. photo © Thom Touw
The pair of Aucklanders went into the final double point medal race for the top ten competitors ranked third with only one point separating them from the lead boat. A seventh place finish in that race brought them 14 points, and as such the championship was given for the first time to a British team, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clarke.
In the previous two world championships the girls medalled a silver and bronze, and this fourth place finish validates that they still belong at the front of the pack. In thirteen races at the 2012 World Championship they only had two races where they finished outside the top ten. Last years’ World Champions from Spain finished 17th.
In the 470 Men’s event, Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders took part in one final gold fleet race (for those not in the medal race) and finished second. With this clean finish to their regatta, they moved up one more position to 21st overall.
Sara Winther also moved upward after two more races at the Laser Radial World Championships in Germany, now placed 30th as they head in to the last two races of the regatta tomorrow. At this event, the Laser Radials will not sail a medal race.
Jo Aleh with Olivia Powrie, Paul Snow Hansen with Jason Saunders and Sara Winther will all be representing New Zealand at the 2012 Olympic Games ten weeks from now. New Zealand has qualified a nations spot for the Finn but a selection decision has not yet been confirmed.
May 20th final standings
470 Womens World Championship
54 boats, after 13 races
4th- Jo Aleh & Olivia (Polly) Powrie
470 Men’s World Championship
95 boats, after 13 races
21st - Paul Snow Hansen & Jason Saunders
May 20th current standings
Laser Radial World Championship
133 boats, 10 races
30th - Sara Winther
The RS:X World Championships were sailed in March, and JP Tobin came away with a Bronze medal, setting the bar high for the team to follow. Andy Maloney grabbed up a bronze medal at the Laser World Championships which finished on May 10th. One day later, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke finished the 49er World Championships with a silver medal.
Daily updates for all events including results will be posted via the NZL Sailing Team’s Facebook Page and Twitter accounts. Further press releases will be issued from Yachting New Zealand.
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World Championships Info
2012 470 World Championships
Venue: Barcelona, Spain
Racing Starts: May 13th
Final Races: May 19th
Representing New Zealand: Jo Aleh/ Olivia (Polly) Powrie, Paul Snow Hansen/Jason Saunders
Regatta Website: http://worlds.470.org
2012 Radial World Championships
Venue: Boltenhagen, Germany
Racing Starts: May 15th
Final Races: May 20th
Representing New Zealand: Sara Winther
For more information contact:
Kristine Lederis
Yachting New Zealand
+64 21 871 301
Kristine@yachtingnz.org.nz
