ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami- Kiwi women lead the way in two classes

by Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting on 29 Jan 2015 NZL Sailing Team womens crews still lead in the Women’s 470 and 49erFX after Day 3 of the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami.

Gold fleet racing got underway today.

Both of New Zealand’s women’s double-handed crews extended their overall leads with Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie winning both of their races today and Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech using their four races to open an even wider points gap on the chasing pack.

After a double-gun display on day three Aleh and Powrie have stretched their leading margin out to nine points over Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR), who managed a third and a fifth today.

'We had a nice consistent day three here in Miami, the breeze was anywhere from 12-20 knots, rather gusty and shifty and a little tricky at times, but we sailed well overall to come home with two wins,' reports Jo Aleh.

'We came from behind in both races, with good pace, some smart down-winds and good second beats, as well as just sending it on the reaches! Great fun.'

There are two races a day for the women’s 470 gold fleet, over the coming two days before the top ten in the fleet sail their medal race on Saturday in Miami.

Aleh describes what conditions they’re expecting; 'Looks like a softer day tomorrow, and we are racing slightly later in the day, listening to the other classes who have been racing after us, it sounds like the wind gets shiftier and crazier as the day gets on.'

Skiff sailors Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech are now 25 points in front of reigning 49erFX world champs Martine Grael and Kahene Kunze (BRA).

While they blotted their single-digit consistency in today’s opening two races the kiwis hit back in races eight and nine with a second and a fifth to keep them well out in front in the women’s skiff.

In the Men’s 470 Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox hold onto fourth overall which they share with the Spanish crew both on 32 points. The New Zealanders were fourth and 15th in their two races today.

Elsewhere the day produced mixed for the NZL Sailing Team who have two days remaining to earn a place in their respective top ten and a medal race start.

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders sailed three races today in the Nacra fleet relinquishing their overall lead and dropping back to seventh overall after placing 29th, 14th and 28th on the water today.

Sara Winther is in 12th overall in the Women’s Laser Radial, while in the Men’s Laser fleet kiwis Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Mike Bullot are lying 11th, 17th and 27th respectively.

Racing continues tomorrow with three days of competition remaining to determine the podium placings.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami runs from 26-31 January and 856 sailors from 63 nations are competing across the ten Olympic and three Paralympic events. It is the second regatta in the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Series which includes events in Melbourne (AUS), Miami (USA), Hyeres (FRA), Weymouth (GBR), Qingdao (CHN) and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami New Zealand’s standings after Day 3:
Full results click here

1st Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie - Women’s 470 (2, 2, 1, 7, 1, 1)
1st Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX (1, 2, 2, 5, 9, 21, 11, 2, 5)
4th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470 (12, 3, 11, 2, 4, 15)
7th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 (3, 1, 2, DSQ, 2, 7, 29, 14, 28)
12th Sara Winther – Laser Radial (2, 2, 16, 9, 26, 13)
11th Andy Maloney – Laser (4, 1, 10, 4, 18, 29, 24)
17th Sam Meech – Laser (DNC, DNC, 21, 2, 4, 31)
27th Mike Bullot – Laser (DNC, 7, 12, 26, 14, 33, 8)
28th Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland – 49erFX (DNC, 21, 15, 32, 24, 33, 33, 24, Regatta website