Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.3

Outstanding results for NZ sailors in three Olympic Class Worlds

by Kristine Lederis, Yachting NZ on 11 May 2012
Andrew Maloney - Laser World Championship 2012 Johannes Berg



Star class keelboat sailors, Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner, won their race and secured the country’s qualification spot for the Olympic Games, and the 49er men climbed up the leader board to second overall.

This podium finish is a personal best for Andy, and comes just two weeks after a silver medal performance at the ISAF World Cup regatta Semaine Olympique Francaise, and five months after his previous personal best of a 13th place at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships.

Sam Meech, who like Andy Maloney is just 21 years old, finished well in 17th and this is his best result so far at the Open World Championships. Sam won the 2011 Laser Junior Worlds and is certainly one to watch in the future.

Andrew Murdoch, New Zealand’s 2008 and 2012 Olympic representative in the Laser class, also finished on a high note by winning the last race. He finished the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, sailed in Dedcember 2011, with a bronze medal.

Australia’s Tom Slingsby won this World Championship regatta for the fifth time.

Final Results Laser World Championships

3rd - Andy Maloney
17th - Sam Meech
25th - Andrew Murdoch
86th - Thomas Saunders
101st - Michael Cate

Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner also won their race today, and with this they have locked in the country’s qualification in this class at the 2012 Olympic Games. Just one race remains tomorrow at the 2012 Star World Championships in Hyeres, France, and Hamish and Jim will go into it sixth overall, but just five points off the podium.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke had another strong day at the 49er World Championships in Hyeres, they have progressed up the leader board to now sit second overall behind reigning World Champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen. Peter and Blair finished silver at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championship and are aiming to podium again this year.

Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, Peter and Blair’s training partners who are both just 19 years, old are also in fine form, currently 12th. One more full day of racing continues tomorrow before the medal race on Saturday night (NZT).

May 11th Current Standings
Star World Championships
6th - Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner

49er World Championships
2nd - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke
12th - 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 May 13th, and the Laser Radial last to start on May 15th.

The RS:X World Championships were sailed in March, and JP Tobin won with a Bronze medal.

World Championship Schedule

2012 Laser World Championships
Venue: Boltenhagen, Germany
Racing Starts: May 4th
Final Races: May 10th
Representing New Zealand: Andrew Murdoch, Sam Meech, Andy Maloney, Michael Cate, Thomas Saunders
Regatta Website: www.laserworldchampionship.com

2012 Star World Championships
Venue: Hyeres, France
Racing Starts: May 5th
Final Races: May 11th
Representing New Zealand: Hamish Pepper/ Jim Turner
Regatta Website: www.starworlds2012.com

2012 49er World Championships
Venue: Zadar, Croatia
Racing Starts: May 7th
Final Races: May 12th
Representing New Zealand: Peter Burling/Blair Tuke, Marcus Hansen/Josh Porebski
Regatta Website: www.49erworlds.org

2012 Finn World Championships
Venue: Falmouth, England
Racing Starts: May 13th
Final Races: May 18th
Representing New Zealand: Dan Slater, Matt Coutts, Rob Coutts
Regatta Website: www.falmouthfinnfestival.com

2012 470 World Championships
Venue: Barcelona, Spain
Racing Starts: May 13th
Final Races: May 19th
Representing New Zealand: Jo Aleh/ Olivia (Polly) Powrie, Paul Snow Hansen/Jason Saunders
Regatta Website: http://worlds.470.org

2012 Radial World Championships
Venue: Boltenhagen, Germany
Racing Starts: May 15th
Final Races: May 20th
Representing New Zealand: Sara Winther
Regatta Website: www.laserworldchampionship.com/
Selden 2020 - FOOTERSwitch One DesignMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland day 4
Contrary to all the forecasts, the sun shone and the local Maloja breeze blew up to 15 knots Contrary to all the forecasts, the sun shone and the local Maloja breeze blew up to 15 knots to give us an incident-filled final day of opening races.
Posted on 13 Jun
IRC UK National Championships day 1
From dead calm to dead heat Racing on Day 1 of the 2025 IRC UK National Championships began under clear skies and glorious sunshine, but a lack of wind delayed the start for all classes.
Posted on 13 Jun
Capricorno wins Loro Piana Giraglia maxi 'double'
A neck and neck dash for the finish Loro Piana Giraglia, the YC Italiano's offshore race from Saint-Tropez to Genoa via the Giraglia Rock, and fifth event in the International Maxi Association's 2024-25 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge, has often seen leader changes in its last miles.
Posted on 13 Jun
5.5 Metre World Championship overall
Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott on The Jean Genie win the title The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) has won the 2025 5.5 Metre World Championship in Sopot, Poland, after the final day of racing on Friday.
Posted on 13 Jun
Sailing with Matt Cornwell
From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds, Matt's journey has been shaped by resilience, big moments, and life at the bow. We caught up with him to talk favourite races and what he'd be doing if he weren't a sailor.
Posted on 13 Jun
CYCA Publishes report reviewing 3 incidents
In the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart and Commits to Implementing Safety Recommendations The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has published the full independent review report into the three incidents in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which tragically saw two fatalities and a man overboard (MOB) incident.
Posted on 13 Jun
5.5 Metre World Championship Day 4
Double bullet puts The Jean Genie in pole position The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) produced the best of the day on Thursday in Sopot at the 5.5 Metre World Championship with a 2,1,1 to take a two-point lead into the final day.
Posted on 13 Jun
The Ocean Race unites at UN Ocean Conference
A powerful week of of action, innovation, and collaboration for ocean health Today, at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, The Ocean Race brought together an extraordinary lineup of athletes, policymakers, scientists, and environmental leaders to spotlight the unrivalled power of sport as a driver of ocean action.
Posted on 12 Jun
The new Beneteau First 36 SE
Seascape Edition badge promises a race-grade sailing experience Introducing the BENETEAU First 36 SE - the ultimate planing racer, born from the collaboration between BENETEAU and Seascape. This is more than just a boat; it's a mindset.
Posted on 12 Jun
WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland day 3
Fast and Furious racing on Silvaplana Lake. Day 3 of the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Series saw spectacular conditions. The local thermal wind, the Maloja, blew up the valley from Italy right on cue averaging 14 knots with gusts of 20.
Posted on 12 Jun