Issue date
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders have delivered an encouraging top ten result at the first ever Nacra 17 World Championship ending the regatta in 9th place. Across eight races sailed the kiwis were in the top ten in five of those and if the final day had provided wind they were within reach of further improving their final placing.
In May 2012 the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) selected the Nacra 17 as the equipment for the new mixed multihull class; Rio 2016 will be the first time a mixed gender discipline features in the Olympic sailing regatta.
19 year old Gemma Jones (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) and 22 year old Jason Saunders (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) paired up to campaign the class earlier this year and have competed at four other European regattas after receiving their new Nacra catamaran in the lead-up to this World Championship.
Saunders represented New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympics sailing finishing 5th in the Men’s 470 with Paul Snow-Hansen at the helm. Gemma Jones has represented New Zealand twice at ISAF Youth Worlds in 2011 and 2012 where she placed 5th in the SL16 multihull.
2013 Nacra 17 World Championship, The Hague, Netherlands
9th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders
36th (11th in silver fleet) Nicole van der Velden and Tomer Simhony
51st (26th in silver fleet) Gareth Moore and Vickery Francis
Full results here
