Bullot eyes the podium at Laser Worlds

Michael Bullot has continued to climb up the standings at the 2009 Laser World Championships to now lie 3rd overall with just one day of racing remaining. The regatta concludes and the 2009 World Champion will be crowned in Halifax, Canada tomorrow.

Bullot, from Murrays Bay Sailing Club, has been on form this year racking up consistently top results across the major Olympic class regattas staged during the northern hemisphere summer. Currently sitting in third place at the Laser World Champs, Bullot is just one point adrift of Nick Thompson of Great Britain, and well in medal contention.

Thompson’s team mate and reigning Olympic champion, Paul Goodison, is in the lead with a solid 16.5 point margin.

While interrupted by a Hurricane and then a lack of wind, this Olympic class regatta looks to be back on track with three races sailed on the penultimate day which has just concluded in Canada. Bullot added three top results to his scorecard including a race win, a 3rd and a 4th which has improved his overall standing from 18th position up to podium and medal contention.

Wellington’s Josh Junior is also inside the top ten after eight races sailed, lying 9th at the end of the penultimate day. Despite a mixed day on the water returning a 47th, a 4th and a 27th Junior has moved into the top ten after lying 11th at the outset of the day.

The event website reports that conditions provided a steady 12-14 knot breeze.

2009 Laser World Championships, Halifax, Canada
New Zealand’s Standings after eight races

3rd Michael Bullot
9th Joshua Junior
23rd Andrew Maloney
28th David Weaver
46th Blair McLay
58th Max Andrews
72nd James Sandall
74th Sam Meech
88th Matt Coutts
112th Aaron Hume-Merry

Link: Regatta Website
 

470 Worlds Update

Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie have concluded the qualifying rounds of the Women’s 470 World Championship in 8th place at the regatta now on in Denmark. The fleet is now split to gold and silver with another eight races scheduled over the next four days to decide the 2009 World Champions.

Just one race was sailed overnight to round out the qualifiers with Aleh and Powrie placing 8th and slipping one spot on the leader board to 8th overall. Points remain tight around the kiwis and with plenty of the regatta to run anything could happen from here.

New Zealand’s two pairs in the Men’s 470 World Championship are Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders sitting in 12th place, and Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington in 24th place. Snow-Hansen and Saunders have sailed solidly over the initial days of this event having not finished outside the top ten in any of their races.

The regatta continues tonight in Denmark with the start of the finals racing and two races per day planned for over the next four days for both the Men’s and Women’s fleets. The 2009 470 World Championship concludes on August 29th.

470 World Championships 2009
New Zealand’s Current Standings

Women’s Championship (57 boats)
8th Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie

Men’s Championship (95 boats)
12th Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders
24th Geoff Woolley & Mark Overington

Link: Regatta Website