2013 Laser World Champs: Just one race on day two

Yachting New Zealand

Media Release

19 NOV 2013

2013 Laser World Champs: Just one race on day two

Just one race counted on day two of the 2013 Laser World Championships on now in Muscat, Oman where a handful of New Zealand’s best Olympic class sailors are competing for the world title.

It was a day where some main contenders suffered seriously from early start disqualifications yet the NZL Sailing Team’s Andy Maloney wasn’t one of them retaining 10th overall after recording an 8th place finish in today’s race. Maloney, from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, has 22 points, equal to Croatian Daniel Mihelic in 9th.

Thomas Saunders has improved his standing from 14th to 12th following an 11th in today’s one race. The young Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club sailor is on 30 points, eight adrift of his team-mate.

New Zealand’s big mover of the day was Sam Meech, also from the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club, who climbed 16 places from 40th overall up to 24th with a great result today where he finished 7th.

The official report explains; ‘Racing was postponed for three hours due to the breeze which was less than 5 knots when the first race was due to begin. But when the fleet finally got out onto the race course, the sea breeze had kicked in, remaining stable throughout a hot and sunny afternoon and building to around 13 knots.’

‘The light winds at Mussanah Sports City caused postponements and frustration among competitors, resulting in ten disqualifications from four false starts in the only race of the day.’

Out at the front of the leaderboard Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Pavlos Kontides (CYP) are in a three way tie all sharing 10 points.

The qualifying races continue on Tuesday with two scheduled for each day until Wednesday. The finals series starts on Thursday with the last two showdowns set for Saturday.

2013 Laser World Championships, Muscat, Oma

New Zealand’s standings after day two (total fleet 126)

10th Andy Maloney (7, 7, 8

12th Thomas Saunders (15, 4, 11

24th Sam Meech (16, 26, 7

97th Michael Cate (39, 50, 55

107th George Lane (49, 54, 50)

Link

Regatta website: http://omanlaserworlds2013.com/eng/index.ph

NZL Sailing Team on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NZLSailingTea

Yachting New Zealand website: http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz

NZL Sailing Team sailor profiles: http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/racing/nzl-sailing-team/team-profiles

ENDS

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