Olympic Sailing: Mens 470 Preview 10th August 2008
New Zealand’s youngest ever sailors to compete at the Olympic Games, Carl Evans and Peter Burling will take to the waters off Qingdao tomorrow for the start of the Men’s 470 event. The double-handed dinghy class will be contested by 29 entries each representing a different nation.
Relative newcomers to the Olympic 470 class the young kiwis are in China up against the top 470 sailors in the world, all with significantly more time on the race track. The 2008 Olympic Games will be a learning experience for Evans and Burling who are both just 17 years old, and had to take time off school to compete here in China.
New Zealand’s representatives…
Carl Evans & Peter Burling, NZL
CARL
Yacht Club: Kohimarama Yacht Club
Age: 17 years
Weight: 63kg
Height: 1.75m
ISAF Ranking: 14
PETER
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
Age: 17 years
Weight: 74kg
Height: 1.85m
ISAF Ranking: 14
Facts:
•Double 420 World Champions (’06 & ’07)
•Youngest sailors to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games
•Switched to 470 in 2007
Some top contenders...
Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Page, AUS
NATHAN
Yacht Club: Middle Harbour, Sydney, Australia
Age: 28 years
Weight: 64kg
Height: 1.83m
ISAF Ranking: 1
MALCOLM
Yacht Club: Middle Harbour Yacht Club
Age: 36 years
Weight: 71kg
Height: 1.85m
ISAF Ranking: 1
Facts:
•China will be Wilmot & Page’s 2nd Olympic Games
•12th in Athens ‘04
•World Champions in ’04, ’05 & ’07 plus silver in ’06
•Winners of the 2007 Olympic Test Event
Nick Rogers & Joe Glanfield, GBR
NICK
Yacht Club: Royal Lymington YC
Age: 31 years
Weight: 60kg
Height: 1.73m
ISAF Ranking: 4
JOE
Yacht Club: Exe Sailing Club in Devon
Age: 29 years
Weight: 70kg
Height: 1.83m
ISAF Ranking: 4
Facts:
•China will be these guy’s 3rd Olympic Games
•Silver medalists in Athens ’04, 4th in Sydney ’00
•Silver medalists at the 2007 Olympic Test event
Gideon Kliger & Udi Gal, ISR
GIDEON
Yacht Club: Unknown
Age: 28 years
Weight: 60kg
Height: 1.7m
ISAF Ranking: 5
UDI
Yacht Club: Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Age: 29 years
Weight: 73kg
Height: 1.89m
ISAF Ranking: 5
Facts:
•China will be these guy’s 2nd Olympic Games
•15th in Athens ‘04
•Bronze at World Champs in ’06, ’07 & ‘08
•6th at 2007 Olympic Test Event
Sven Coster & Kalle Coster, NED
SVEN
Yacht Club: Wv Braasemmermeer Roelofarendsveen
Age: 29 years
Weight: 61kg
Height: 1.83m
ISAF Ranking: 2
KALLE
Yacht Club: Wv Braasemmermeer Roelofarendsveen
Age: 25 years
Weight: 65kg
Height: 1.88m
ISAF Ranking: 2
Facts:
•This will be these guy’s 2nd Olympic Games
•6th in Athens ‘06
•Silver medal at 2007 World Championships