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Young New Zealand Windsurfers bring home Gold for the Worlds women race and a set of great results for the Europeans.
Great results were brought home by six teens who attended the Worlds, Europeans and Baltic Cup. The Gold Cup for the Worlds was won by Xanthe Bowater and both boys and girls were well placed in their classes.
Windsurfing is growing as a popular option for young New Zealand sailors, and New Zealand sent a group of teenagers to the European race circuit over their summer to race RS:Xs and Technos against the worlds best young talent.
The Worlds was won in the Women’s race by Xanthe Bowater finished first female and 6th overall in the Techno 293 fleet. Coral Headey came 50th, Fenella Bowater 56th and Lauren Mackenzie 57th out of a total of 74 windsurfers.
In the RS:X Europeans Natalia Kosinska claimed the 5th place in the women’s fleet, and Xanthe Bowater took 29th place in the Female Youth class. Fenella Bowater came 7th in the RS:One, a great achievement for her first time sailing on this board. The boys also did really well with a 5th place in the Silver Fleet for Alex Hart, who also claimed the overall male in the youth category.
At the Italian Nationals Harrison Hill came 24th (in a field of 39) and 13th (in a field of 42) in the Baltic Cup in Poland. Harrison also did well in the Techno World Championships in Poland coming 11th in the field of 79.
In the Baltic Sea Cup New Zealand girls took the 4th, 5th and 6th places, with Coral Headey at 4th Fenella Bowater 5th and Lauren Mackenzie in 6th place. Well done girls, that was New Zealand punching above its weight! Finn Croft took the 7th place and Harrison Hill the 10th – both respectable finishes for the boys.
The boys placed 56th (Finn Croft) and 91st (Harrison Hill) out of a total of 159 windsurfers – quite a line up at the start for our New Zealand boys and great experience for all the sailors.
Gary Hill, team manager said “Windsurfing is very much alive and well in New Zealand and respected for producing great windsurfers. Our new group is laying down a strong foundation for the future”.
