NZL Sailing Team at ISAF World Cup Regatta, Netherlands

As New Zealand’s best in Olympic class sailing head to Weymouth for next month’s Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta, a handful of the team are building up to the UK Regatta competing now at Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, the Netherlands.

Delta Lloyd (24th –29th May) is the fifth of seven regattas in the ISAF Sailing World Cup series, Sail for Gold in Weymouth (6th – 11th June) is the sixth on the schedule.

Now two days into the six day event Jon-Paul Tobin is the best placed of the New Zealanders lying second overall in the Men’s RS:X fleet in which 55 wind surfers are competing.

Tobin took charge in the blustery conditions on day one opening the series with a gun and a 2nd to hold the early lead. In contrast day two (overnight NZ time) produced light and shifty south westerly winds, Tobin 3rd and then 8th in the two races sailed to lie second overall.

Friend and training partner of Tobin, Dorian van Rijsselberge has local knowledge on his side sailing in his home country, and after day two has a four point lead over the NZL Sailing Team representative.

Over on the 49er course Peter Burling and Blair Tuke are opening their European season at this event in the Netherlands after sailing well in Australia earlier this year.

This NZL Sailing Team duo also started with a strong show on day one in the challenging breeze to hold the early lead despite a capsize in race two of the series. Overnight they placed 7th, 19th and 13th in the three races sailed and have slipped down the leader board to fourth position.

With four days of racing yet to run there is plenty of opportunity for the kiwi crew to chase down the leaders including Brits Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, Danes Peter Kruger and Nicolai Thorsell, plus Aussie friends and rivals Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen.

Dan Slater is competing in the Finn class where he has recorded two 3rds on the board over the opening days, but suffers in the standings having two black flags against him. He is in 38th overall.

Our Women’s Match Race crew with Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Susannah Pyatt on board have sailed strongly through the opening round robins recording five wins from seven races sailed so far.

Racing resumes in Medemblik tonight New Zealand time with another four days of competition to decide the winners.

2011 Delta Lloyd Regatta
New Zealand’s Standings after day two

Men’s RS:X
2nd Jon-Paul Tobin
45th Carl Evans

49er
4th Peter Burling and Blair Tuke

Finn
38th Dan Slater

Laser Radial
21st Miranda Powrie

Women’s Match Racing
Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Susannah Pyatt 5 wins/2 losses