New Zealand leads in Finn and 49er after Day 1 at Hyeres World Cup

by Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting on 23 Apr 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres Regatta is underway for 2015 and the NZL Sailing Team has opened well, particularly in the Finn and 49er classes.

The new look ISAF Sailing World Cup format, debuting here in Hyeres, sees all fleets restricted to a maximum of 40 boats featuring only the best sailors. Everyone has just four days of competition to make the top ten and entry to their medal race scheduled for day five, Sunday 26 April.

Finn: Andrew Murdoch, who is competing in his first major international regatta for 2015, has taken the early lead in the Finn class after placing fifth in their two races on day one.

Conditions were challenging; Murdoch describes the day, “We had a light offshore wind ranging 6 to 10 knots with pretty flat water. It was certainly a very testing day.”

“I managed to get the majority of the decisions right today on the first upwind legs which set me up for two solid results. Plenty of yachting still to go but really happy with how I sailed today,” he continues.

“Great to be in the lead, lots of positives to come out of today, looking forward to more racing tomorrow.”

Murdoch, on 10 points, is four ahead of Michele Paoletti of Italy.

49er & 49erFX: In the 49er class three races were sailed. Emirates Team NZ helmsman and crew, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, came away from Day 1 sharing the overall lead with long-time rivals Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) of Artemis Racinng. The kiwis went 2, 9, 3 in today’s racing while the Aussies opened with a 33 but bounced back with a fourth and a win to follow to draw level with Burling and Tuke on net points.

Blair Tuke says, “The first of our three races we sailed in a really light onshore breeze. We sailed a good race to start the regatta with a second on the scoreboard. The next two races were sailed in 6-10knots.”

“40 boats in one fleet is a new experience for us, lots of challenges but we are learning fast!”

“We are happy with the start to the week. Was a tricky day, we left a few points out there but also could have been a lot worse.”

The second NZL Sailing Team crew of Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski are lying 13th.

Over in the Women’s skiff event Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech are in 18th after three races on day one; they placed 12th, 16th and 19th.

470: Women and Men: It was a mixed bag for Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie today with a solid third place in the opening race, and a 25th in the next. They hold 11th overall.

Men’s pair Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox lie 13th after a similar day – they were 24th and seventh in their two races.

Laser & Radial: Two of New Zealand’s four Laser representatives are in the top ten at the end of day one at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres. Sam Meech is the best placed, lying third with an 11th and a second in today’s two races.

Meanwhile Andy Maloney is in seventh place after a 12th and a ninth on the water today.

Maloney reports, “[It was] a tricky day one at the Hyeres World Cup in some shifty light offshore winds. I managed two okay results in the super competitive 40 boat fleet. Looking forward to tomorrow!”

Sara Winther is in 17th in the women’s Laser Radial.

Nacra 17: A fifth and a 17th sees New Zealand’s mixed multihull duo of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders end the day in 10th place.

Women’s RS:X: Women’s windsurfer Natalia Kosinska is lying 21st.

2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres NZL Sailing Team current standings

1st = Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 49er (2, 9, 3)
13th Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski – 49er (9, 12, 19)
18th Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX (12, 16, 19)
11th Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – Women’s 470 (3, 25)
13th Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470 (24, 7)
1st Andrew Murdoch – Finn (5, 5)
35th Josh Junior – Finn (33, 27)
3rd Sam Meech – Laser (11, 2)
7th Andy Maloney – Laser (12, 9)
19th Mike Bullot – Laser (21, 18)
24th Thomas Saunders – Laser (16, 30)
17th Sara Winther – Laser Radial (26, 11)
21st Natalia Kosinska – Women’s RS:X (27, 13)
10th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 (5, 17)