French Olympic Sailing Week - Kiwi team prepares

Sixteen kiwi sailors are in Hyeres, France to represent New Zealand at 2010 Semaine Olympique Francaise Regatta for Olympic class sailors.

Racing starts in France on Sunday 25th, and runs for six days with medal races and prize-giving planned for Friday 30th.

Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères is the fourth of seven events in the 2009-10 ISAF Sailing World Cup series, following on from Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma de Majorca in which New Zealand collected two medals earlier this month.

Over one thousand sailors, including 33 Olympic medallists, will take part in the 2010 edition of this important event on the Olympic sailing circuit.

The New Zealand team once again has a strong contingent sailing in the Laser class with recent bronze medallist at Princess Sofia, Mike Bullot (pictured) included. 2008 Olympic representative Andrew Murdoch will also be on the start line, as well as New Zealand young guns like Josh Junior, Andy Maloney, Max Andrews and Sam Meech.

New Zealand also has one representative a piece in the Laser Radial (Sara Winther), 470 Men (Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders), 470 Women (Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie), Finn (Matt Coutts), RS:X Women (Jazmine Lynch) and Women’s Match-Racing (Samantha Osborne, Raynor Smeal and Jenna Hansen ) events.

The New Zealand team is supported by coaches Laurie Jury and Mark Howard. Due to the European flight disruptions, coaches Ian Neely and Nathan Handley will not be in Hyeres as planned.

Further updates on the New Zealand team will be issued as racing gets underway, and full results and news are available on the regatta website.

Representing New Zealand at 2010 Semaine Olympique Francaise are...

RS:X Women
Jazmine Lynch

Laser
Mike Bullot
Andrew Murdoch
Josh Junior
Andy Maloney
Sam Meech
Max Andrews

Laser Radial
Sara Winther

470 Men
Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders

470 Women
Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie

Finn
Matt Coutts

Women’s Match Racing
Samantha Osborne, Raynor Smeal and Jenna Hansen

New Zealand’s Coaching Team
Laurie Jury
Mark Howard