Issue date
It was another long day in San Isidro, Argentina today where the 2016 470 World Championships are currently being contested and NZL Sailing Team’s Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox are racing.
On day three of the six day championship the fleets were held ashore until the breeze built and stabilised enough, at around 4pm, for racing to get underway. The men sailed two races today, and now have five on the board, while the women only sailed one today and have a total of four races completed.
Race organisers will be hoping for more wind over the second half of the regatta to make up on lost ground – they’re aiming for a ten race opening series ahead of the medal races.
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie returned their best race result of the regatta so far with a 3rd place finish in today’s only women’s race.
“Rather long day yet again today,” confirms Jo Aleh. “And not much wind, so a lot of waiting around on shore, then out to the course for some more waiting… Eventually getting one race in some quite tricky conditions!”
It wasn’t all text book sailing from Team Jolly today; “We made it interesting for our poor coach Nathan. We caught the pin end boat anchor warp off the start line, and got out of phase on the first beat, then rounded 30th at the first top mark, which we also hit.. And had to do turns.”
Despite that they recovered and came away with a keeper.
“But from there it was all good, brilliant downwind to take 16 boats, then we backed it up with a good second upwind, 4th at the top, 3rd at the finish… Fun racing.”
They break back into the top ten as a result to lie 9th overall going into day four.
The schedule for tomorrow is to attempt four women’s fleet racing commencing at 10am local time.
New Zealand’s men’s 470 pair of Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox took 7th place in race four, but finished mid- fleet in race five to take a tumble down the leader-board. They wrap up the day lying 7th overall.
In Eilat, Israel where the 2016 RS:X World Championships are on, today was a scheduled rest day. New Zealander Natalia Kosinska goes into the finals rounds lying 7th with gold fleet racing set to start tomorrow.
Both Championships run until Saturday 27th February when the podium places will be decided.
2016 Men’s and Women’s 470 World Championships, Argentina
New Zealand’s current standings
Men
7th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (1, 1, BFD, 7, 24)
37th Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (36, 32, 30, 38, 23)
Women
9th Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (6, 13, 13, 3)
2016 RS:X World Championships, Israel
New Zealand’s current standings
7th Natalia Kosinska (8, 9, 4, 3)
Links
2016 470 World Championships regatta website http://2016worlds.470.org/en/default/races/race
2016 RS:X World Championships regatta website http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2016/
Yachting New Zealand website http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/
About the NZL Sailing Team
The NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who have made the top 20% in their most recent (respective) class World Championships or pinnacle event and have shown consistency of performance over the year including other significant Championships.
Yachting New Zealand’s High Performance Programme is focussed on winning medals at the Olympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.
For more information
Jodie Bakewell-White
Yachting New Zealand Communications Manager
Tel. 021 709 065
Email. jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz
