Issue date
The sole New Zealand representative to compete at 2013 Semaine Olympique Franciase Regatta for Olympic class sailors in La Rochelle, France has come away with a silver medal.
Kiwi RS:X windsurfer Natalia Kosinska won today’s medal race to pass France’s Eugenie Ricard and stand on the second step of the podium at the final 2013 EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup regatta which has just wrapped up at La Rochelle.
Poland’s Sofia Klepacka, who had an almost unassailable lead going into today, has secured the gold medal in the women’s RS:X fleet which featured 26 international Olympic campaigners.
Racing took place over six days in La Rochelle, Kosinska (32 years) from the Takapuna Boating Club on Auckland’s North Shore, winning three of eleven races sailed including today’s top ten medal race. She only finished outside the top ten in two races.
Kosinska earned a place on Yachting New Zealand’s NZL Sailing Team after placing 5th overall at the 2013 RS:X European Championships, also sailed in France, in July – a pinnacle regatta for the RS:X windsurfer. As the only female windsurfer in the NZL Sailing Team she is currently New Zealand’s top campaigner in the Olympic class.
A number of the NZL Sailing Team are in Qingdao, China for the opening regatta of the 2013-14 ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta about to get underway. Racing in Qingdao runs from October 14th – 19th. Among the six strong kiwi contingent are NZL Sailing Team sailors Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (Women’s 470) and Dan Willcox and Paul Snow-Hansen (Men’s 470).
Image Natalia Kosinska at left © Thom Touw photography
Links
Yachting New Zealand website
NZL Sailing Team on Facebook
NZL Sailing Team sailor profiles
About the NZL Sailing Team
NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who share the ultimate goal to win Olympic medals for New Zealand at the Rio Games in 2016.
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 contact
Jodie Bakewell-White
Communications Manager, Yachting New Zealand
E. jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz
M. 021 709 065
