NZL lying second in the Boy's Radial and 29er class – one day remains
With one day of competition left New Zealand’s Thomas Saunders is leading the Boy’s Laser Radial, while Alexandra Maloney and Sam Bullock are in second in the Open 29er fleet at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships.
Finally the wind came the party in Turkey, albeit very shifty, on the penultimate day of racing where the twelve sailors of the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team are competing. Plenty of racing was possible, which sees some changes in the standings, as the world’s premier youth regatta heads into the final day for 2010 when the podium places will be decided.
Thomas Saunders takes an impressive leap up the ranks in the Boy’s Laser Radial fighting back to take the lead in the hotly contested 50 boat fleet. At the outset of day four, just completed, the Tauranga local was lying sixth, and he went out to score a 13th, a 2nd and a 5th on the water which was enough to shake up the standings and take the lead.
His rivals at the top of the board didn’t negotiate day four’s shifty conditions as well as Saunders, who in the top spot looks in terrific shape for a prestigious Youth World’s medal. The kiwi is three points clear of his closest competitors Giovanni Coccoluto of Italy and Keerati Bualong of Thailand who are tied on equal points behind him.
The Norwegian in fourth is just one point further adrift which means racing tomorrow will be crucial in determining the podium finishers.
Three races were sailed in the Open 29er skiff class and Alexandra Maloney and Sam Bullock have retained their position in second place on the board, however they share equal points with the Brits who are in third position.
The kiwis added a second race win to their tally in the days’ opening race, then went on to a 3rd and a 7th in the subsequent races. Three points out in front are Gael Jaffrezic and Julien Bloyet on France. With such a narrow point spread at the top of the board the final day of racing is also critical for sailors vying for a medal in this class.
Maloney competed in Buzios, Brazil in 2009 where she finished fourth in the 420 event narrowly missing out on a medal and she will be keen to better that in 2010.
New Zealand is in the top ten of the Girl’s RS:X and the Open multihull event also. Georgia Schofield retains ninth position in the board sailing, while Josh Porebski and Naomi Mannering slip to eighth in the multihull class.
Both of New Zealand’s 420 crews improved their overall position after day four of racing at the championship. James Turner and Logan Dunning-Beck climb from 14th to 12th recording their best race result of the series in the opening race of the day – a 3rd place.
Erica Dawson and Vicky Francis also had their best result of the regatta last night with a 2nd place in the most recently sailed race. This pair improve from 17th to 15th on the Girl’s 420 leader board.
Racing continues tomorrow with the medals set to be decided on Friday 16th July in Istanbul. Racing continues tomorrow with the medals set to be decided on Friday 16th July in Istanbul. Full results, images and more are available in the first instance from the official regatta website.
2010 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship
New Zealand’s provisional standings after day four
1st - Thomas Saunders (Boy’s Laser Radial) 3, 7, 28, 11, 13, 2, 5
31st – Molly Meech (Girl’s Laser Radial) 39, 24, 29, 10, 24, 24
22nd - Oliver Gunman (Boy’s RS:X) 27, 23, 15, 12, 21, 19, 21
9th – Georgia Schofield (Girl’s RS:X) 10, 7, 13, 7, 9, 11, 19
12th - James Turner and Logan Dunning-Beck (Boy’s 420) 21, 25, 9, 5, 3, 22
15th – Erica Dawson and Vicky Francis (Girl’s 420) 16, 25, 8, 18, 24, 2
2nd – Alexandra Maloney and Sam Bullock (Open 29er) 1, 11, 4, 2, 9, 3, 1, 3, 7
8th – Josh Porebski and Naomi Mannering (Open Multihull) 6, 4, 10, 12 (OCS), 1, 6, 5, 8
In behind the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team are long-time principal sponsor the NZL Yachting Trust. Yachting New Zealand is delighted to welcome Oceanbridge Shipping as a key sponsor and team is wearing SLAM Advanced Technology Sportswear.
About the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships
The ISAF Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2010 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey is the 40th championship. 344 sailors from 63 nations around the globe are entered.
Past notable winners include American’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Nick Rogers (GBR) and Siren Sundby (NOR); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN).
Links:
Regatta website
NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team on Facebook