Yachting NZ- Laser Sailors show promise at major European regatta

by Zoe Hawkins on 8 Apr 2009

There was no racing overnight for the New Zealand team at the Princesa Sofia in Palma. The third day of racing tested the patience of sailors and race officials with low clouds and rain delaying the expected wind.

After waiting a shore and then on the water under the rain, the other classes came back to shore at 4PM. They are expecting more suitable conditions for Wednesday when the Mistral from the North-West is expected to provide some good sailing with average winds and a small chop.

Here is the Yachting NZ report covering the racing so far.:

Four Kiwi sailors are making their mark at Princesa Sofia Mapfre Trophy in Palma, Spain, the third event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup, and the first major event on the New Zealand high performance programme since the Beijing Olympics.


25-year old Mike Bullot is in ninth place after four races in the Laser class. In the fleet of 134 boats, two fellow Kiwis, Andrew Maloney and Josh Junior sit in 24th and 25th respectively.

In the Laser Radial Sara Winther is in 12th, and Justine Sellars sits in 19th position in the RS:X women’s boardsailing class.

Also in the Laser division, James Sandall, Sam Meech and Blair McLay, each relative newcomers to this level of Olympic class competition, are mid-fleet, and enjoying the preparation and experience during the early stages of their campaign for the 2012 London Olympics.


Despite cold temperatures and delays due to rain and cloud, conditions have been described as ‘typical Palma’ so far, with nice waves and steady wind directions. The Mistral is expected to come in from tomorrow, offering a better wind strength with some chop.

Barbara Kendall won this regatta in 2007.

There are three further days of racing to go. Tomorrow the Laser and RS:X sailors will complete the final stages of Gold and Silver fleets.