Macky Set to Qualify Class for Olympics

Macky Set to Qualify Class for Olympics

2003 ISAF World Championships
11 - 25 September 2003
Bay of Cadiz, Spain

Europe class sailor Sarah Macky is set to qualify New Zealand for the 2004 Olympic Games, leading into her final race at the ISAF World Championships in Spain. Nine nations have already qualified in their entries for the Europe class, leaving a further 11 spots available at this World Championship.

Macky is currently in 9th position overall, which would see her comfortably qualify a place for New Zealand.

To date New Zealand has qualified for the 470 men, and Mistral Men and Women's classes. With a top result in the last race, she also has a chance to finish in the top 5, which would make her eligible for nomination on an individual level. High Performance Manager Peter Lester comments,

"Tomorrow should see Macky qualify the class, and we look forward to many more New Zeale women's event, just 2 points behind Faustine Merret of France. She added an 11th and 9th result to her scorecard, in the shifty 10-18 knot levante breeze. Coach Shayne Bright comments,

"Barbara's consistency has been outstanding, while all her close rivals have had very big drops (worst placings), her worst has been a 12th".

With the qualification races completed, they will also enjoy a day off before starting their final three day's of racing on Friday.

Racing got underway for the Finn class, with Peter Fox and Clifton Webb in 37th and 38th place respectively in the 82 competitor fleet. While the Star class managed to get two races underway, taking their series total to five. Rohan Lord and Andrew Taylor have moved upto 55th place overall after a better day which included a 13th in the final race.

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