NZL lying 3rd and 4th at 49er and 49erFX Worlds

Yachting New Zealand

Media Release

26 SEP 2013

NZL lying 3rd and 4th at 49er and 49erFX Worlds

The 2013 49er and 49erFX World Championships continued in Marseille, France, with New Zealand crews now sitting in 3rd and 4th in the 49er and in 10th in the 49erFX.

Despite light and tricky sailing conditions of only four to five knots on day two of the six day regatta Peter Burling and Blair Tuke managed consistency across all three races sailed to lift their overall standing up to 4th drawing equal on points to team-mates Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski who also produced three solid results.

With 95 boats contesting the 49er World Championship they’ve been split into three fleets for qualifying rounds. Today Burling and Tuke placed 4th, 3rd and 1st in their three races, Hansen and Porebski were 3rd, 7th and 9th both the kiwi crews on 12 points with Brits Fletcher and Sign leading on six points and Danes Warrer and Lang in 2nd overall on 11 points.

Coach Hamish Willcox says; “So it was a great day for the Kiwis here in Marseille!”

“Again a similar pattern to yesterday with the boats that were able to get left winning the races. There was always more wind on the left side and always more wind on the other courses closer to the left shore.”

“Both Pete and Blair and Marcus and Josh were on course area A which is further north and this meant less wind. Also the day started cloudy and burned off late. Finally the swell was back and this reflected onto the course from round the bays shorelines.”

Now that five races have been completed the regatta progresses to semi-finals where the top forty boats are split evenly into two groups for tomorrow following which those placed in the top twenty qualify for the finals phase featuring shorter twenty minute races.

The 53 strong women’s fleet sailing for the 49er FX world title recorded just one race result today after interruptions due to the light winds. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech placed 9th and improved their overall standing from 14th up to 10th place.

Racing runs for six days with the world titles for the Olympic skiff classes set to be decided on Sunday 29th September.

49er and 49erFX World Championship

New Zealand’s standings after day two

Men’s 49er -95 boat

3rd  Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (NZL Sailing Team) – 12 point

4th  Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL Sailing Team) – 12 point

52nd Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock – 56 points

Women’s 49erFX – 53 boat

10th Alex Maloney and Molly Meech – 26 point

28th Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland – 42 points

ENDS

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