NZL Sailing Team - NZL 49erFX leads at Sailing World Cup Miami

by Jodie Bakewell-White on 28 Jan 2016 Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech have hit the lead in the 49erFX women’s skiff class at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami on now in Miami, USA.

The regatta, which is the second event in the 2015-16 ISAF Sailing World Cup series, has two days of fleet racing remaining with medal races for the top ten on Saturday in Miami.

Over in the Laser class New Zealand is holding seventh (Thomas Saunders), ninth (Sam Meech) and 10th (Andy Maloney).

A decent 7-12 knot southerly wind came in today which allowed race officials to get racing underway on time and make up for light wind interruptions which set some fleets behind schedule over days one and two.

The new breeze was obviously to the liking of the New Zealand women’s pair of Maloney and Meech who were lying second overall after the opening two days of the regatta featuring a quality 34-strong fleet in the FX building towards their World Championships next month. Consistency paid dividends for the New Zealanders today adding 7-6-2-2 to their scorecard from the four races sailed and jumping into the lead at the regatta mid-way mark.

Currently they have a ten point buffer over the chasing Danish crew of Jena Mai Hansen and Katja Salskov-Iversen.

The biggest fleet in Miami is the 98 strong Laser group and New Zealand’s four-strong contingent are all sailing well. Best placed after day three, is Thomas Saunders in seventh after an eighth and a fifth on the water today.

Sam Meech also returned a couple of top ten placings today and he retains ninth overall, while Andy Maloney is close behind in 10th.

Over in the Nacra multihull New Zealand’s Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders have bounced back from an average start to the regatta and continue to climb up the leader board. After day three they’re in 14th no doubt gunning to break into the top ten before Saturday.

Competitors in the Olympic and Paralympic classes have five days of fleet racing from Monday, January 25 to Friday, January 29. Medal Races across the 10 Olympic classes will bring the regatta to a close on Saturday, January 30 where medals will be awarded to the top three boats.

2016 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami New Zealand’s current standings

49erFX Skiff:
1st Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL Sailing Team) (4, 24, 1, 12, 7, 7, 6, 2, 2)
18th Ellie Copeland and Erica Dawson (Aon Fast Track Squad) (23, 4, 14, 13, 23, 17, 24, 24, 16)

Laser:
7th Thomas Saunders (14, 11, 12, 1, 8, 5)
9th Sam Meech (NZL Sailing Team) (7, 10, 23, 4, 7, 10)
10th Andy Maloney (NZL Sailing Team) (1, 10, 3, 18, 12, 13)
15th Mike Bullot (12, 6, 14, 14, 16, 4)

49er Skiff:
24th Markus Somerville and Josh Porebski (8, 32BFD, 4, 28, 15, 4, 1, 12, 32DNF)
30th Logan Dunning Beck and Jack Simpson (Aon Fast Track Squad) (18, 32BFD, 20, 13, 9, 20, 16, 9, 5)
37th Isaac McHardie and Trent Rippey (Aon Fast Track Squad) (16, 8, 28, 29, 23, 10, 17, 19, 10)

Laser Radial:
36th Sara Winther (28, 21, 17, 11, 12)

Nacra 17:
14th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (NZL Sailing Team) (BFD, 28, 41, 1, 6, 19, 1, 7, 18)
18th Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson (Aon Fast Track Squad) (14, 12, 38, 12, 20, 43, 28, 6, 9)

Links:

Regatta website: http://miami.ussailing.org/
World Sailing website: http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/home.php