NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ now share the lead at RBYAC

NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ now share the lead at RBYAC

The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ remain at the top of the leader board after another gripping day of close encounter racing at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup on now in San Francisco.

On 28 points they share the top spot with the Michael Menninger led American Youth Force Sailing Team. Behind them teams placed back as far as 7th in the standings are just three points off the leaders.

New Zealand’s FMJ Racing has a share of 4th place on 26 points after placing 4th and 6th in today’s races. With no one team dominating over the first half of the four day regatta it remains extremely tight for the remaining two days.

The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ, sponsored by Rodd & Gunn, didn’t open the day according to the text book stalling on the start line in the first race. Crew member Guy Endean explains;

“It was tough today, the first race didn’t start that well, but it was just a matter of sticking in there really and try to pull back the places we could get. We worked hard for it, so it was just good to finish with a few boats behind us.”

Recording a 7th and earning four points for that first race, the NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ came away in race two with a much better start and went on to place 3rd worth eight points.

Endean talks about what he feels the team did well today; “The second race was good, a few things went our way and a couple didn’t but it was pretty good. There were a few, let’s call them freestyle manoeuvres, where they’re not entirely planned but just fell into shape with a bit of pressure. There were a couple of situations where it all came together nicely.”

The four day regatta is now at the midway point with two days and four races left on the schedule.

“We’ve just to get out there fresh again and do our thing really,” says Endean. “Everything seems to be going well as far as the crew mechanics, there may be a couple of small things to iron out but apart from that it’s just a matter of getting out there fresh again and getting a good start and getting amongst it.”

Racing resumes tomorrow for day three and another two fleet races for all ten teams competing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

Red Bull Youth America’s Cup standings after day two

1st NZL Sailing with ETNZ - 28 points
2nd American Youth Sailing Force – 28 points
3rd Team Tilt – 27 points
4th Swedish Youth Challenge - 26 points
5th Full Metal Jacket Racing – 26 points
6th ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team -26 points
7th Next World Energy - 25 points
8th All In Racing - 17 points
9th Objective Australia - 10 points
10 USA45 Racing – 9 points

The regatta, being sailed in the AC45 wing sailed catamarans, runs across four consecutive days starting Sunday September 1st. There will be two fleet races sailed each day starting at 1100 hours local time in San Francisco, each intended to be around 25 minutes long with a 30 minute break in between.

Using a high point scoring system, the first seven races have equal points weighting with 10 points for 1st, 9 points for 2nd and so on. The final eighth race is worth double points.

The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ includes Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Jono Spurdle, Guy Endean, Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Jason Saunders.

Follow the NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ via…
facebook.com/NZLSailingTeam and yachtingnz.org.nz

Watch the racing live from 0600hours New Zealand time on www.tvnz.co.nz/americascup

About the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
For the first time in the history of the America’s Cup, young, talented sailors have a clear pathway towards competing for one of the most prestigious trophies in sport.

Racing will take place in the same high performance, wing-sailed AC45 catamarans that are used in the America’s Cup World Series. The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup is scheduled for September 1-4, 2013, in San Francisco, during the heart of the 34th America’s Cup racing season.

About the NZL Sailing Team
NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who share the ultimate goal to win Olympic medals for New Zealand at the Rio Games in 2016.

NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.

ENDS

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