Silver and Bronze for NZL at SOF Hyeres

New Zealand has won silver in the Laser class and bronze in the Men’s 470 class at the ISAF Grade One French Olympic Sailing Week just concluded in Hyeres.

Andrew Murdoch held onto second place to win silver, while Carl Evans and Peter Burling claimed a podium spot after lying 6th going into the medal race.

The final day of the regatta was light and shifty but despite this all the Olympic classes at the regatta sailed a final double-points medal race to decide the winners. New Zealand featured in the Laser, Laser Radial and Men’s 470 medal races and came away with two medals.

LASER
Andrew Murdoch benefitted from consistency throughout the six day regatta while many of his rivals were unable to achieve this in the mixed conditions. Windy and choppy over the initial days of the event conditions over the final few days have been light and shifty more akin to what sailors might expect at the Olympic venue in five months time.

While Murdoch managed to climb into the lead at one point during the event he was two points behind Michael Leigh of Canada going into the medal race sailed overnight in France. The kiwi was 7th across the line last night, while Leigh was 2nd securing him the gold medal and leaving Murdoch to settle for silver.

Currently Murdoch is ranked number three in the world and he was named in the New Zealand Olympic team late last year. He will now stay on in Hyeres for a few more days of training before returning to New Zealand.

470 MEN’S
Lying 6th at the outset of the medal race and eight points adrift of 3rd place Carl Evans and Peter Burling had quite a challenge on their hands to make it to the podium. The 17 years olds did it though – a 2nd in the medal race enough to lift them up to claim the bronze medal by the narrowest of margins.

The kiwis concluded the regatta on equal points with Charbonnier and Bauset of France but are awarded the medal due to a better result in the medal race.

The young duo are a proven talent in the 420 class, the stepping stone to the Olympic 470, having won back to back world titles but it is impressive to see them step up to the hotly contested Olympic class and claim a podium result at a Grade one event in such a short space of time. They are confirmed to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games in August and will be the youngest New Zealand sailors ever to do so.

Evans and Burling will return to New Zealand for a short break before heading back to Europe.

LASER RADIAL
Jo Aleh was also on the water in the Laser Radial medal race last night and concludes the regatta in 6th after a 6th in the medal race.

Aleh will return to New Zealand briefly before returning to Europe for the next of the major European events, Holland Regatta which kicks off on May 21st.

French Olympic Sailing Week (Semaine Olympique Francaise)
New Zealand’s Final Results

Laser (149 boats)
Andrew Murdoch – 2nd

470 Men (73 boats)
Carl Evans & Peter Burling – 3rd

Laser Radial (78 boats)
Jo Aleh – 6th

Finn (55 boats)
Dan Slater – 12th

Tornado (21 boats)
Aaron McIntosh & Mark Kennedy – 16th

RS:X Women (59 boards)
Steffanie Williams – 29th
Kate Ellingham – 30th

RS:X Men (92 boards)
Mike Kilduff – 74th