Issue date
The 2013 Finn European Championship on now in Warnemunde, Germany has hit the midway mark and with six races sailed New Zealanders Josh Junior (pictured) and Andrew Murdoch both feature in the top five sailors after another solid day on the water.
Meanwhile in The Hague, Netherlands kiwi multihull crew Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders are lying 8th in the 2013 Nacra 17 World Championship standings where points are close at the top of the leaderboard after five races.
Adding a 2, 6, 12 in today’s three races Josh Junior is currently the best placed of the kiwis in the 103 strong Finn Europeans fleet.
Junior is now in fourth overall, just four points from the lead. “It was pretty tricky really, and a long start line, which means you have to get a good start, which I didn't but I managed to fight my way through with good downwind speed to get three good results. So I am pretty happy, and I am really enjoying it. And looking forward to the next two days of racing.”
His expectations, “I want to just keep knocking off small things so just keep getting good results and I think a couple of good starts to make sure I get closer to the front. If I can get some good starts then maybe I can get near a medal.”
Visilij Zbogar from Slovenia still holds the lead with 22 points, France’s Jonathan Lobert is one point behind in 2nd, while Ed Wright (GBR) is in 3rd with 25 points. Junior is just one point back from Wright.
Now in 5th overall with 30 points is Andrew Murdoch who produced more solid race results today placing 4th, 5th and 11th in the three races sailed.
Competing in the inaugural 2013 Nacra 17 World Championship which boasts an impressive 65 boat fleet, kiwi duo Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders are proving themselves as solid contenders in this new Olympic class with some excellent race results.
Three races were sailed today; the kiwis placed 20th in the opener, then 3rd and 4th in the subsequent races and are laying 8th overall at the midway mark.
Racing resumes at both regattas tomorrow with medals to be decided and presented on Saturday.
New Zealand’s current standings…
2013 Finn European Championship, Warnemunde, Germany
4th Josh Junior (28, 5, 1, 2, 6, 12)
5th Andrew Murdoch (13, 4, 6, 4, 5, 11)
Full results here.
2013 Nacra 17 World Championship, The Hague, Netherlands
8th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (7, 3, 20, 3, 4)
37th Nicole van der Velden and Tomer Simhony
59th Gareth Moore and Vickery Francis
Full results here
Links:
2013 Finn European Championship website
2013 Nacra 17 World Championship website
Image by Robert Deaves/Finn Class Association
For more information contact:
Jodie Bakewell-White
Yachting New Zealand Communications Manager
M: 021 709 065
E: jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz
