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The Laser Radial wrapped up in Mexico where New Zealand’s Sara Winther finished 11th overall. A total of 71 boats competed and 13 races were completed over seven days of racing.
On the final day of the regatta Winther placed 10th and 14th in the two gold fleet races.
“11th at the Worlds!” reports Winther. “A couple of mistakes this week, but I’m happy to see some solid improvements over the last few months. Plenty more in the tank!”
“Off to Hyeres to keep the momentum going! Big thanks Rachel Basevi for coaching me this week, and everyone else for your support!”
Yachting New Zealand coach Rachel Basevi who was in Mexico to support Winther and the New Zealand sailors, says; “It has been a gruelling seven days of racing for the kiwi contingent here at the laser radial worlds in Mexico. There are a lot of very tired eyes around the boat park!”
Basevi continues; “Sara Winther has finished up top kiwi in 11th and showed excellent composure on the final day in the challenging racing. A few errors in the last week including a capsize have cost a top 10 result but there are a lot of positives to take out of the week.”
“Youth development sailor Olivia Christie has a notebook full of things she has learnt from the week and Susannah Pyatt sailed an excellent last day posting two top 10 results to move up into the top 20.”
“The regatta has been very well run and we have been lapping up the sunshine in what locals describe as ‘atypical’ breezes ranging from beautiful stable thermals to very unstable conditions.”
The podium places went the way of Great Britain, USA and Denmark with the 2016 Women’s Laser Radial World Championship crown won by Team GBR’s Alison Young. Paige Railey (USA) ended the seven day regatta just one point behind Young with Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) taking the bronze medal.
New Zealand’s Susannah Pyatt improved to 19th overall after returning a couple of single digit race results today. Olivia Christie, racing in the silver fleet closed the regatta in 65th place (29th in the silver fleet).
Regatta website here: http://www.laserworlds2016.org/index.php
