NZL Sailing Team Rio 2016 - Rio Update and Kiwi team coverage

by Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting NZL on 6 Aug 2016 Two days out from the start of the Rio Olympic Sailing Regatta, NZL Sailing team provides a final update.

New Zealand sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will lead the New Zealand Olympic Team into Maracanã Stadium for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony and become the first co-captains to do so for New Zealand. The Opening Ceremony starts at 8:30pm Brazil time – 12:30pm NZ time.

A strong contingent of kiwi sailors will be among the group lead by Burling and Tuke and the faces of the NZL Sailing Team will feature prominently as the world watches what is expected to be a uniquely Brazilian Opening Ceremony.

After enjoying the festivities the team plan to return their focus to the competition with equipment inspections scheduled over the days leading up to kick off.

The first of the NZL Sailing Team to go racing is Laser campaigner Sam Meech with two races scheduled for day one of the sailing competition starting at 1300 on 8 August with New Zealand’s other single-handed sailor Josh Junior starting the next day on 9 August.

On 10 August both 470 crews get underway including Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox. The new mixed multihull also starts on Wednesday with Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders set to sail three races.

Finally both the men’s and women’s skiff events – featuring Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er), and Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (49erFX) - start racing on Friday 12 August.

Medal races are scheduled between 15-18 August (with 19 August as a reserve).

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World Sailing: World Sailing has live 2D and 3D tracking of all boats on all courses during each day of racing, and plenty more on the Olympic World Sailing website: sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/home.php

NZ Olympic Team app: To follow the entire New Zealand Olympic Team, including the sailors, download the NZ Olympic Team app

Live on Sky: Sky TV are New Zealand’s host broadcaster of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and will bring you all races being provided LIVE by the Olympic News Service featuring the NZL Sailing Team, including all the medal races, as well as daily highlights from the sailing. Check the SKY schedule for details.