NZL Sailing Team- Big month coming up in Europe - Sailing action guide

by Jodie Bakewell-White on 3 Jul 2014 During July the big names of the NZL Sailing Team – New Zealand’s top Olympic sailors – will race for their respective 2014 European Championship titles including the 49er, 49erFX, Nacra17, RS:X and Men’s and Women’s 470.

Currently NZL Sailing Team windsurfer Natalia Kosinska is lying fifth overall at the 2014 RS:X European Championships on in Cesme, Turkey with three days of racing remaining.

Next week Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will defend their 2013 49er European Championship title, while Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie will be looking to go one better than they did at their 2013 470 Women’s European Championship where they won silver.

Also in action representing New Zealand will be 2013 49er World Championship silver medallists Josh Porebski and Marcus Hansen. And Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech, current world champions in the Women’s 49erFX skiff will head the New Zealand squad in the 49erFX fleet.

Finland plays host to the 49er and 49erFX regatta with the skiff sailors already in Helsinki preparing for competition – racing starts on July 8th. Starting one day earlier than the skiffs, multihull sailors Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders will contest the 2014 Nacra 17 European Championships commencing on Monday July 7th at La Grande Motte, France.

Meanwhile Aleh and Powrie, along with men’s 470 crew Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox are in Athens, Greece for their event which will see racing proper get underway on July 10th.

 2014 RS:X European Championships

What: European Championship for Olympic windsurfing
When: Racing started Monday 30^th June and runs until Saturday 5^th July
Where: Cesme, Turkey
Regatta website: http://www.rs-xeurope2014.com/

Women’s RS:X  New Zealander’s competing:

• Natalia Kosinska
• NZL Sailing Team Coach: Dave Robertson

Major international rivals include:

• Charline Picon (FRA)
• Marina Alabau Neira (ESP)
• Zofia Nocetti – Klepacka (POL)

2014 49er and 49erFX European Championships

What: European Championship for both the men’s and women’s Olympic skiff classes
When: Racing starts Tuesday July 8^th and runs until Sunday July 13^th
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Regatta website: http://49er.org/event/2014-european-championship/?event_id=2399

49er: Men’s Olympic skiff class
New Zealander’s competing:

• Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (defending European champions, 2013 World Champions, 2012 Olympic silver medallists)
• Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (2013 World Championship silver medallists)
• Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock
• Logan Dunning-Beck and Jack Simpson (6^TH at 2014 49er Junior World Championships)
• NZL Sailing Team Coach: Hamish Willcox

Major international rivals include:

• Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS)(2012 Olympic gold medallists and multiple World Champions)
• Jonas Warrer and Anders Thomsen (DEN)
• Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign (GBR)

49erFX: Women’s Olympic skiff class (new to the Olympics in 2016)
New Zealander’s competing:

• Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (2013 World Champions)
• Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland (6^TH at 2014 49erFX Junior World Championships)
• NZL Sailing Team Coach: Jez Fanstone

Major international rivals include:

• Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) (2013 49erFX World Championship Silver medallists)
• Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen (DEN)
• Annameik Bekkering and Claire Blom (NED)
• Sarah Steyaert and  Julie Bossard (FRA)

2014 Men’s and Women’s 470 European Championships

What: European Championship for both the men’s and women’s Olympic double-handed dinghy classes
When: Racing starts Wednesday July 10^th and runs until Tuesday July 15^th
Where: Athens, Greece
Regatta website: http://europeans.470.org/en/default/races/race

470 Women: Women’s Olympic double-handed dinghy class
New Zealander’s competing:

• Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (2012 Olympic Gold Medallists, 2013 World Champions, ISAF female Sailors of the Year)  
• NZL Sailing Team Coach: Nathan Handley

Major international rivals include:

• Camille Lecointre and Helene Defrance (FRA)
• Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR)

Men’s 470: Men’s Olympic double-handed dinghy class
New Zealander’s competing:

• Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox
• NZL Sailing Team Coach: Pete Evans

Major international rivals include:

• Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS)
• Lucas Calabrese and Juan de la Fuente (ARG)

2014 Nacra 17 European Championships

What: European Championship for Olympic mixed multihull
When: Racing starts Monday July 7^th and runs until Saturday July 12^th
Where: La Grande Motte, France
Regatta website: http://www.nacra17class.com/nacra17europeans/

Nacra 17: Mixed multihull Olympic class (new to the Olympics in 2016)
New Zealander’s competing:

• Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders
• NZL Sailing Team Coach: Will Howden

Major international rivals include:

• Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) (2013 Nacra17 World Champions)
• Ben Saxton and Emma Diamond (GBR) (2013 Nacra17 World Championship silver medallists)
• Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (AUS)
• Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (ITA)

About the NZL Sailing Team

The NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who have made the top 20% in their most recent (respective) class World Championships or pinnacle event and have shown consistency of performance over the year including other significant Championships.

Yachting New Zealand’s High Performance Programme is focussed on winning medals at the Olympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.