Rio 2016 - Burling and Tuke outclass 49ers on Day 3 of Pre-Olympics

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZL on 18 Aug 2015 Current World 49er Champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have blitzed the fleet in the Mens Skiff event on the third day of racing in the Pre-Olympic Regatta.

The Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup crew crew scored three wins and a 12th place to rocket from third overnight to top of the leaderboard by a margin of 9pts.

Four races were sailed in the 49er to catch up on the race missed on the first day of racing in the 49er, when a late start and fading breeze resulted in the fleet running out of daylight.

The results behind the Kiwi 49er crew were a little underwhelming with the other two crews who were in the top three after the first day of racing, dropping back to be fourth overall in the Nacra 17 and 49er FX fleets.

Only one race was sailed in the 49erFX with the NZL crew of Alex Maloney and Molly Meech finishing fifth - enough to drop them out of second place overall - however they only have a deficit of 2pts to recover. Two races were not able to be completed today.

Three races were sailed as scheduled in the Nacra 17, with the NZL crew of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders winning the first race of the day, and placing a countable third in the second race of the day. However a 13th place in the fnal race of the day pulled them back to fourth overall, and like the 49erFX crew they are a small margin of just 4pts out of second place overall.

Current Olympic Champion Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie were unable to improve their overnight place on the Womens 470 leaderboard and remain in seventh overall, placing fifth and ninth in the two races sailed. However they have closed the points margin and could make a move up the points table in the two races tomorrow, which are expected to be sailed in fresh breezes. A Chinese crew lead the event.

The Mens 470 crew of Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox languish in 15th overall after placing 17th and 12th in the two races sailed. They too will be looking for a better performance in the breeze to lift into the top 10 overall in the two races scheduled for tomorrow.

Only one race was sailed in the Finn class, with Josh Junior placing a useful fourth and sufficient to lift him up the leaderboard. Two races were scheduled for tomorrow and that maybe increased to three to catch up the schedule, allowing a rest day the following day.

In the Mens Singlehander (Laser) Andy Maloney has dropped back to 12th overall, after having his worst race of the regatta, finishing 23rd in the only race sailed. The Laser was scheduled to have lay day tomorrow, and may catch up the one race deficit on the following day when two races were scheduled.

Although New Zealand has qualified for all ten events at the 2016 Sailing Olympics, there are no New Zealand entries in the Pre-Olympics in the Mens and Womens Windsurfer (RS:X) and Womens Singlehander (Laser Radial)

From Yachting New Zealand:

2015 Rio Test Event rolled into day three today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have taken the overall lead and five New Zealand crews are now placed within the top seven in their class.

The day brought more tricky conditions with light winds - too light for any racing on the three outer course areas. All fleets completed at least one race, with the 49ers sailing four.

49er:

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke put the hammer down today racking up three race wins from four races to take the overall lead in the 49er class.

“It was a tricky day out there on the close course right under the Sugar Loaf so we’re really pleased to come away we three good results,” says Peter Burling.

“We had a bit of a tough one in that second race when we ended up about 12th. We thought we were in really good shape up the first beat, and then just got one thing wrong and we pretty much ended up right at the back and then we were battling through the fleet for the rest of the race to get back to 12th.”

At the end of day two the 49er fleet has now completed six races and Burling and Tuke know there is plenty of racing yet to come.

Tuke says, “We’re halfway through the fleet racing series of the regatta. We had two races yesterday which were good for us, just a nice solid start, and it was good to get out and put the hammer down today and get three 1sts.”

“Not such a great race in the second one, but it was pleasing the way we bounced back and were able to take to more 1sts. We’re happy but we also know there’s plenty more work to do this week.”

49erFX:

Despite the forecast for stronger breeze on the three outside courses today it didn’t eventuate and the 49erFX, Laser and Finn fleets played a long waiting game until the inner course areas came free and they each sailed one race in light breeze late in the day.

Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech weren’t fazed and they added a solid keeper score with a 5th place. The kiwi skiff women are now in 4th overall and will back on the water tomorrow.

Nacra 17:

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders have relinquished their early lead in the mixed multihull class, but remain well placed in 4th overall at the end of racing today with a total of six races now on the board.

They started the day with a win in the 17-strong Nacra class, and added a tidy 3rd in the second race. Placing 13th in the final race pushes their net points total out to 21 with Germany, Netherlands and Australia edging ahead of the kiwis.

Tomorrow the Nacra fleet have a reserve day scheduled allowing Jones and Saunders, and their rivals and day to recuperate off the water before racing again on Wednesday in Rio.

Women’s 470:

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie scored a 5th and a 9th in their two races and retain 7th overall on equal points with the Spanish crew in 6th.

Polly Powrie describes their day, “It wasn’t too bad. We were on the Naval course today, so inside the harbour.”

'We didn't quite feel that we had the boat up to speed today, which didn't help, but it was more making a few calls that were not quite the smartest options! It was however a good learning day, so happy enough with that, and looking forward to trying again tomorrow!'

“We’re scheduled to be back outside the bay, a little bit different again.”

“We’ll just keep chipping away and try and keep improving.”

Men’s 470:

The Men’s 470 fleet also sailed two races today, kiwi pair Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox placed 17th and 12th to lie 15th overall after four races.

Finn:

After a long day offshore waiting for wind the Finn fleet came inside the bay to complete one race late in the day in Rio. New Zealand sailor Josh Junior had a good result with a 4th place and has improved to 6th overall.

Laser:

Like the Finns and 49erFX the Laser fleet had to wait for a free inside course to sail just one race today. Andy Maloney placed 23rd and is now lying 12th.

2015 Rio Test Event, Rio de Janeiro NZL Sailing Team current standings

1stPeter Burling and Blair Tuke - 49er (2, 6, 1, 12, 1, 1)
4thGemma Jones and Jason Saunders - Nacra 17 (2, 2, 14, 1, 3, 13)
4thAlexandra Maloney and Molly Meech - 49erFX (3, 1, 15, 5)
6th Josh Junior - Finn (7, 10, 4)
7thJo Aleh and Polly Powrie - Women’s 470 (4, 12, 5, 9)
12th Andy Maloney – Laser (11, 6, 9, 22, 23)
15thPaul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox - Men’s 470 (17, 10, 17, 12)