Issue date
The European season is about to get underway for the NZL Sailing Team with the start of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma scheduled for Monday next week.
A team of 14 crews (including 21 sailors) will represent New Zealand in eight events at the up-coming ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta which runs over six days on the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca.
In 2013 New Zealand came away from this regatta with a three medal haul, including gold and bronze in the Laser class for returning sailors Andy Maloney and Sam Meech respectively. Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (pictured above competing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma 2013) won silver in the 49erFX in 2013 and are also back in Palma preparing for the 2014 edition.
Talking to ISAF Andy Maloney says; “I am always buzzing to get back over to Europe this time of the year, and get back into racing against all of the best."
"The thing that makes the Laser Class so appealing to me is the tight racing, this is what excites me about the class and I can't wait to get back into that competitive racing."
Maloney has seen his competitors, World #1 Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) and World #2 Tom Burton (AUS), take top honours at ISAF Sailing World Qingdao, Melbourne and Miami but as a consistent performer throughout 2013 he comes in ready and poised to strike, "I am always confident that I can win any event going into it. I feel very prepared after three months training in New Zealand focussing on key areas to improve and am excited to line up against the other top guys again.”
The schedule for ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma…
30th March – Practice Race
31st March – 5th April – Racing Days
Kiwis competing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma…
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie - NZL Sailing Team (Women’s 470)
Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – NZL Sailing Team (Men’s 470)
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – NZL Sailing Team (49er)
Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski – NZL Sailing Team (49er)
Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock (49er)
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – NZL Sailing Team (49erFX)
Josh Junior – NZL Sailing Team (Finn)
Andrew Murdoch – NZL Sailing Team (Finn)
Andy Maloney – NZL Sailing Team (Laser)
Sam Meech – NZL Sailing Team (Laser)
Thomas Saunders – NZL Sailing Team (Laser)
Andrew McKenzie – (Laser)
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – NZL Sailing Team (Nacra17)
Natalia Kosinska – NZL Sailing Team (RS:X Women)
Coaches and support: Jez Fanstone, Nathan Handley, John Cutler, Hamish Willcox, Steve Erickson and Peter Evans
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
Links
Regatta website
ISAF Sailing World Cup website
NZL Sailing Team sailor profiles
