Rio 2016 - Winther puts together strong final day at SWC Hyeres

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 1 May 2016 2012 Olympic representative Sara Winther (NZL) has rounded out the Sailing World Cup Hyeres with a third place finish in the last race in the Series.

But she missed the cut for the Medal Racing, by just one place.

Now her fate is in the hands of the NZ Olympic selectors. She has a strong case for inclusion in the New Zealand Olympic Sailing Team for Rio with an 11th place in the 2016 Worlds - and 10th country. She backed that up in the Sailing World Cup Hyeres with another 11th place in an event that was marred by light, shifting wins for Days 2 and three of the five day regatta.

' There was a lot more breeze today, i think up to about 24 knots at one stage. Nice to finish on a high,' Winther told Sail-World.

'This event has been really hard, quick thinking and reactions have been not quite where I would have liked them. I think the Worlds combined with the travel took more out of me than I realised it would. Seven days is a short turn around.

'Although the fleet was small the races were only 35-45 mins, which made for a lot of fleet compressions and brought up a few new areas to improve on. I have made some big improvements from the beginning of the year, but without a dedicated coach on the water it was hard to correct current errors between races.

'My speed in all the conditions is good, and just a few tactical errors let me down. I have to thanks the BRA team for helping me on the water, and towing me out to the race course.

' So now its off home and just have to sit back and wait for what the selectors will say. I have given everything i could in the last five months, and and proud of what I have achieved.

' A lot of people have been helping me in the background, and I could not have done it without their emails and words of wisdom. Plus also my mum and dad for the emotional and financial backing.

' I am on the upswing, so hope I have the opportunity to keep going and work hard towards the Games,' she added.

Winther qualified New Zealand for the Womens Singlehanded event at the 2016 Olympics when she finished in 12th place in the 2014 World Championships in Santander, Spain - the first round of qualifying for Rio 2016.

She suffered a freak wrist injury after that event which affected her build up into the 2015 Worlds in Oman for a period of two or three months. She placed 22nd in that event in Oman, despite a couple of third places - one in the Qualifying and another in the Finals.

But that result was sufficient to drop her out of the NZL Sailing Team and her funding. She has since been self-funded and remotely coached during her come-back.

Eight 2016 Olympic representatives sailed at Hyeres, Winther placed behind six, and ahead of two. The 2016 World Champion, Alison Young (GBR) was third overall, assisted by back to back wins on the final day and ahead of the outcome of the Medal Race.

Placing 10th country at the 2016 Worlds, coupled with the 2014 World Championship result should earn Sara Winther the nod of the Olympic selectors for Rio 2016.