Aleh and Powrie start 470 Worlds in fine form

Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie have made a terrific start at the Women’s 470 World Championships, where racing started overnight off the Hague, Netherlands. The NZL Sailing Team duo is in second place after the initial two races.

Competitors had to wait until day two of the Championships to get underway after racing on day one of the series was abandoned due to lack of wind. Both the Men’s and Women’s 470 world title for 2010 are up for grabs at this regatta which concludes on July 18th in the Netherlands.

New Zealand is represented by three crews in both the Men’s and Women’s fleets, and after the first day of racing it is Aleh and Powrie who are best placed of the kiwis. They placed 2nd in race one and in race two, both times crossing the line behind Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Farrar Kinsolving of the USA who kicked off the series with two bullets.

Jo Aleh has been a stand-out since her days in the junior classes from which she progressed into the Laser Radial class representing New Zealand at the most recent Olympic Games where she finished seventh.

Aleh is at helm of the 470 pairing with Olivia Powrie, who had a stint in the Yngling during the last Olympic cycle, as her crew. Aleh and Powrie combined to compete in the Women’s 420 World Championships (the feeder class to the Olympic 470) when hosted by Takapuna Boating Club in 2007 – they won the title.

In 2009 they placed sixth at the Women’s 470 World Championships.

The next best placed of the New Zealanders is Melinda Henshaw and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher lying 12th in the Women’s fleet placing 5th and 12th in racing on what was the opening day of competition. Sisters Sarah and Emma Berry are in 55th place in the 62-strong fleet.

The Men’s fleet managed three races overnight each of the New Zealand crews returning one top ten finish. The best placed are NZL Sailing Team crew Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders in 29th place.

Qualifying rounds continue tomorrow with the finals series planned over four days from 15th to 18th July when the titles will be decided and the world champions crowned after a medal race on the final day.

The New Zealand 470 crews are supported by coaches Nathan Handley and Hamish Willcox.

New Zealand's current standings

Women’s 470 World Championship (62 boats)
2nd - Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (2, 2)
12th - Melinda Henshaw and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (5, 12)
55th - Sarah and Emma Berry (28, 25)

Men’s 470 World Championship (119 boats)
29th - Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders (16, 9, 15)
42nd - Geoff Woolley and Dan Willcox (37, 12, 5)
61st - Francisco Lardies and Finn Drummond (28, 8, 26)