Issue date
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie will head into the final day of the 2013 470 European Championships in 3rd place and looking good for a medal, but with a challenge on to make it silver or gold.
New Zealand will also be represented in the Men’s medal race with Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (pictured above) sailing away with a win today and lying 7th overall.
The regatta, which has attracted a full contingent of the world’s best Olympic campaigners in the double-handed 470 class, has just one day to run in Formia, Italy. Conditions were light at the venue today and after a postponement just one race was possible.
Today’s race wasn’t as lucrative for Aleh and Powrie however, and while they’re in a solid position for a podium finish, their rivals have extended their points lead today;
“There was not much wind at all so we were delayed on shore for a few hours before finally heading out to race,” explains Aleh. “We had a great start and had all the options available to us, but made the wrong call on the first upwind leg, and were way back in the pack again. Once again we did what we could to catch up, but there was not much left to do, and so we ended with a disappointing 9th placing in race nine.”
But the golden girls know it’s not over until it’s over and anything can happen in the high pressure medal race; “So we go into tomorrow's medal race in 3rd overall, eleven points off 1st and nine points off 2nd, then another nine points back to 4th.”
“So with only eight boats in the medal race that is rather a few points to make up. But it’s all good, nothing like a good challenge!”
“Looks like the breeze will be back in tomorrow, so looking forward to a good race tomorrow.”
Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox had a race win today and have secured themselves a spot in the Men’s fleet top eight to sail the medal race on the back of today’s result. Ahead of race 11 they were lying 9th but the win sees them climb to 7th overall.
While the fleet leaders are out of reach, points are close in the positions just ahead of the kiwis and a good race tomorrow could see them further improve their place, and their final result, at this well attended regatta.
This group will be next do battle at the 470 World Championships is on in La Rochelle, France commencing in late July and running into early August. Check out this calendar of Olympic class yachting to find out what’s coming up.
470 Open European Championship, Formia, Italy
New Zealand’s Standings
Women (41 boats)
3rd Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (35 points)
Men (69 boats)
7th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox
37th James Turner and Carl Evans
470 Regatta Links
Regatta website featuring race video highlights, updates, news reports and photos.
Video - Daily video highlights are available from 9 June, 10 June, 11 June and the final day of racing on 15 June. Available on the 470 Olympic Sailing YouTube channel and ftp details on the Championship Media Page
Photos - A selection of high resolution images will be available for FTP download at:
Host: ftp.icarussailingmedia.com
Username: europeans2013
Password: formia.2013
Images from racing are also available on the Championship website and our Facebook photo gallery
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
