Star Result Qualifies NZ's Olympic Eligibility

Star Result Qualifies NZ's Olympic Eligibility

As a result of their seventh place finish at the Star World Championships overnight, Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner have qualified New Zealand's tenth and last Olympic yachting spot for the London 2012 Olympics.

Although with the final race they dropped one place down the leader board, a seventh place overall finish in this experienced fleet is no small feat for this relatively new Kiwi pairing. First and second overall at these 2012 World Championships went to 2008 Olympic Gold and Silver medallists, the well known Brazillian Robert Scheidt and British Iain Percy. 

Essentially, their collection of one of the final four Olympic qualification spots in the Star class has made them eligible for nomination and selection for London 2012.  

The NZL Sailing Team had another strong day at the 49er World Championships in Zadar, Croatia; Peter and Blair remain in second overall and have slightly closed the gap on reigning World Champions and regatta leader Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen.

Peter and Blair finished silver at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championship and they are aiming to podium again this year. They go into the final day of racing just 9 points behind the lead boat and with a 21 point buffer on the third placed French boat.

Also doing very well at the 49er worlds is Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, Peter and Blair’s training partners. They are currently in 10th place overall and closer to the boats in front than behind.  Tomorrow at the 49er World Championship there may be two more final series races before the double point medal race for the top ten teams only.

New Zealand is now one of the small handful of nations that is qualified in all ten Olympic yachting disciplines, and athlete selection announcements have already been made in seven. Just 75 days remain until the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

May 12th Final Standings
Star World Championships
7th - Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner

May 12th Current Standings
49er World Championships
2nd - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke
10th - Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski

Most other remaining Olympic representatives will be starting their World Championship run later in the week, with the Finns starting at Falmouth and 470’s in Barcelona on Sunday overnight (NZT) and the Laser Radial last to start on Tuesday overnight.

The RS:X World Championships were sailed in March, and JP Tobin came away with a Bronze medal, setting the bar high for the team to follow. Andy Maloney grabbed up a bronze medal at the Laser World Championships which finished on May 10th.

Daily updates for all events including results will be posted via the NZL Sailing Team’s Facebook Page and Twitter accounts. Further press releases will be issued from Yachting New Zealand.

ENDS

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