Oceanbridge Sail Auckland- Three current world champions to compete

by Jodie Bakewell-White on 15 Oct 2013

The entry list for 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will feature at least three reigning Olympic class world champions giving local and international sailors the opportunity to rub shoulders with, and compete against the world’s best.

After an incredible season for the NZL Sailing Team three of New Zealand’s double-handed sailing crews are 2013 world champions including Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (women’s 470), Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (49erFX skiff) and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er skiff).

All three crews know the Waitemata and Hauraki Gulf like the back of their hand and all will compete at 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, New Zealand’s foremost Olympic and invited classes regatta which runs from first – 4th February 2014 at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

'Oceanbridge Sail Auckland is New Zealand’s premier event for dinghy classes, and we’re really looking forward to more good racing when 2014 comes round again,' says Peter Burling, World and European Champion in the 49er skiff class and helm of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup winning team.

Burling and Tuke’s training partners Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski recently secured a career best achievement winning world championship silver – they too will be on the start-line come February.

Reigning Olympic champions and 2013 World Champions in the Women’s 470 class Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie will compete and are encouraging local and international sailors to join them; 'If you’re thinking of coming to Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, it’s a really well run event,' says Polly Powrie. 'We generally have a great range of breeze and it’s a really fun event.'

It’s not only the double-handed classes featuring New Zealand’s Olympic rock stars with the likes of Andrew Murdoch and Josh Junior to sail in the Finn, Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Thomas Saunders to set the pace in the Laser class and New Zealand’s top board sailors such as Natalia Kosinska and Jon-Paul Tobin all likely to compete.

And men’s 470 duo Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox will be back on the race-track again in 2014.

'Oceanbridge Sail Auckland is all about encouraging aspiring and talented young sailors to take part, and to have the high calibre NZL Sailing Team sailors competing acts as a real draw card,' says Simon Manning, Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta Director. 'Who wouldn’t want the chance to take a race win off an Olympic or world champion?'

'We’re offering travel rebates for sailors outside the Auckland region and we know that a number of international sailors are planning to attend as well. 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland is really shaping up to be a terrific regatta.'

On-line registrations open now on the Oceanbridge Sail Auckland website.

About Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2014

Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will again take place at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club from the first – 4th February 2014. All racing will take place in the Waitemata Harbour, in the Hauraki Gulf.

All Olympic and Paralympic class boats are invited to take part: The Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 470 Men, 470 Women, 49er, 49er FX, RS:X 8.5, RS:X 9.5, Nacra 17, Skud 18, 2.4mR and also other classes are encouraged: the OK Dinghy, 29er, 420, Liberty, Hansa 303, Kiteboards, F18, A Class Catamaran and 18 foot skiff.