Burling and Tuke still lead 49ers in Hyeres at ISAF Sailing World Cup

by Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting NZ on 25 Apr 2015 At the end of day three at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres Regatta the NZL Sailing Team continues to lead the 49er class, with a further five crews also lying within the top ten.

Tomorrow is the penultimate day of the regatta, the last day of fleet racing and the last chance for all crews to secure a place in the top ten of their fleet for a start in Sunday’s medal races.

49er & 49erFX: Despite one rare mid fleet result in race three on day three from Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (pictured above) the kiwi skiff sailors remain well out in front of the pack. They recorded two third places and a 20th today and now sit on 24 points, with Jonas Warrer and Anders Thomsen (DEN) 37 points adrift and holding second overall ahead of Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) in third place.

“Three races today in light winds – super tough racing,” says Blair Tuke. “Two good and one average for us.”

Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski claimed a race win today and have rocketed from 18th overall at the outset of the day to lie ninth heading into day four. They’re now well placed for a medal race spot if they sail well again tomorrow.

470: Women and Men: New Zealand is now holding fifth on both the men’s and women’s 470 events with Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie slipping from third overall after a 17th and a 12th on the water today.

For Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox it was a good day who closed with a race win and results that sees them climb from 10th to fifth in the men’s double-hander class.

Laser & Radial: Another kiwi to climb up the leader board after today is Andy Maloney in the Laser. With a 10th and a third in racing today Maloney climbs into sixth place and close enough to go hunting those just ahead of him on the leader-board.

“Two more tight, light air races on day three,” reports Andy Maloney after racing today. “All to play for with the final day of fleet racing tomorrow.”

A good day for Sam Meech tomorrow could see him race Sunday’s medal race too; he is currently lying 11th overall after placing seventh and sixth on the water today.

The other two NZL Sailing Team Laser sailors, Thomas Saunders and Mike Bullot, are in 18th and 20th respectively.

Sara Winther has improved her overall position to lie 21st at the end of day three.

Finn: In the heavy-weight dinghy Josh Junior is the closest of the two kiwis to earning a medal race spot – the Wellington sailor is in 13th overall after day three and just four points adrift of the sailor in 10th.

Andrew Murdoch, who suffered gear damage yesterday, is lying 16th.

Nacra 17: Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders retain 16th in the Nacra 17.

Women’s RS:X: Sailing three races in the Women’s windsurfing today Natalia Kosinska holds 16th on the leader-board.

Racing continues in Hyeres tomorrow with one day of racing remaining before the top ten medal races scheduled for Sunday.

2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres NZL Sailing Team current standings

1st Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 49er (2, 9, 3, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 20)
9th Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski – 49er (9, 12, 19, 29, 16, 35, 9, 15, 1)
10th Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX (12, 16, 18, 14, 4, 9, 15, 29)
5th Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – Women’s 470 (3, 25, 6, 5, 17, 12)
5th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470 (24, 7, 18, 5, 9, 1)
13th Josh Junior – Finn (33, 27, 7, 10, 11, 15)
16th Andrew Murdoch – Finn (5, 5, DNF, 28, 31, 9)
6th Andy Maloney – Laser (12, 9, 18, 7, 10, 3)
11th Sam Meech – Laser (11, 2, DSQ, 39,7, 6)
18th Thomas Saunders – Laser (16, 30, 14, 30, 17, 20)
20th Mike Bullot – Laser (21, 18, 12, 22, 34, 20)
21st Sara Winther – Laser Radial (26, 11, 19, 32, 30, 6)
17th Natalia Kosinska – Women’s RS:X (27, 13, 28, 11, 3, 21, 12, 10)
16th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 (5, 18, 29, 10, 14,14, 19)