RS-X omitted from Kiwi line-up for Pre-Olympics

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com on 18 May 2015 Yachting New Zealand has announced six crews have been selected to compete at Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2015 this August.

One boat from each class is permitted to attend the regatta in what is seen to be a shadow Olympic Team to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Missing from the line-up is the RS:X Windsurfer - indicative that the Olympic selectors do not think the competitors in either the Mens of Womens event are currently up to selection standard.

While omission could be understandable in an Olympic year for the test event there is no restriction on numbers - other than one crew per country. Should the RS:X competitors meet the 2016 Olympic Selection criteria at the World Championships in October then they will go into the 2016 Olympic regatta without the benefit of a pre-Olympic regatta.

No announcement has been made in the Laser class for Men or Women, however the decision in the Mens event is expected to be difficult because there are multiple competitors of a similar high standard.

The top mens competitor finished ninth in the 2014 ISAF World in Santander (Spain), while the top womans competitor, Sarah Winther was 11th in the Womens event, and should have been an easy choice for the Pre-Olympics.

The rest of the team picked itself and contains no surprises - all are potential medalists.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke - 49er (Men’s skiff)
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech - 49erFX (Women’s skiff)
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie - Women’s 470 (Women’s double-handed dinghy)
Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox - Men’s 470 (Men’s double-handed dinghy)
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders - Nacra 17 (Mixed multihull)
Josh Junior - Finn (Men’s heavy-weight dinghy)

Yachting New Zealand selectors will consider nominations for the Laser and Laser Radial classes following 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth which runs from 8-14 June 2015.

The Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2015, often referred to as the Olympic Test Event, is a dress rehearsal for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Regatta.

Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2015 features Olympic size fleets, uses the same race course areas and the base facilities of the Olympic venue that will be the setting for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games sailing.

Jez Fanstone, Yachting New Zealand’s High Performance Director explains the significance of this regatta for the New Zealand sailors and the coaching and support team; “It’s another opportunity to race at the venue and to test out our preparations both on and off the water.”

“2015 is about performing at this test event; it is a pinnacle event for the year.”

Fanstone adds, “We’re targeting consistent podium finishes throughout the year at major championships including the individual class world championships and ISAF World Cup regattas.”

“The NZL Sailing Team aims to perform under pressure at these events and does everything possible in the build-up and preparation whilst maintaining a strong, supportive culture.”

The regatta runs from 15 – 22 August, will be based at Marina da Gloria on Rio’s inner harbour, and is based on the same format and schedule for racing that will be used one year on at the Rio Olympic Games.

In Olympic sailing a maximum of one crew can represent each qualified nation in each of the Olympic events.