Kiwis to the fore in fresh opening to 420 Worlds

by Jodie Perkins and Sail-World on 4 Jan 2007 New Zealanders featured prominently on the leaderboard after the first day's racing in the 2007 420 World Championships, being sailed off Takapuna. All told, four Kiwis occuppied four of the top five slots in both the Open and the Women’s division.

Defending World Champions, Carl Evans and Peter Burling (NZL) lead the Open fleet after three races, with two wins and a second. Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (NZL) lead the Women’s fleet after two races sailed today.

Blustery winds gusting up to 30 knots from the south west prevailed over the race course off Takapuna today for the start of the 420 World Championships 2007 regatta. A number of boats suffered gear damage forcing some to retire early, with many more capsizing.

Evans and Burling, both just 16 years old have a five point lead over Mike Snow-Hansen and Joshua McCormack (NZL), while Australians Will Ryden and Max Bryden hold third.

The British pair, Ben Saxton and James Foskett from Staunton Harold SC were highest placed for GBR at 15th overall with a 12, 9, 8 placing. Owain Matthews and Joe Williams, West Kirby YC, were 40th and James and Will Rusden from Royal Lymington YC were 51st, one place ahead of Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko, Gratham Water SC/Oxford SC. Jack Yeoman and George Yeoman from Itchenor SC were 57th after teh first day.

New Zealanders Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie dominated the first day of competition in the Women’s fleet winning both races sailed. The blustery conditions didn’t faze the pair who both usually sail the single-handed Laser Radial.

Fellow kiwis Sarah Bilkey and Rosie Sargisson (NZL) also sailed well on day one, placing second in the first race, only to be disappointed with a disqualification for crossing the start line early in the second race. They currently lie 24th in preliminary results from today.

Shelley Hesson and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (NZL) are four points behind the leading women with Brockerhoff and Schwich Duisburger of Germany in third.

For Briton best placed were Alice Currey and Alice Rook, Lyme Regis SC, at 19th overall after two races and Sophia and Emma Parkinson Royal from Lymington YC, 22nd. Alice Brotchie and Jane Turner, Plymouth Uni/Bosham SC, had a DNF in the first race and were 17th in the second to place 36th overall.

116 boats are competing in the regatta with 67 entries in the open division and 49 entries in the Women’s division.

420 World Championships 2007 Results after Day One

Open Division Qualifying Series Preliminary Results
Top Ten after Day One

1st NZL Carl Evans & Peter Burling - 4 points
2nd NZL Mike Snow-Hansen & Joshua McCormack - 9 points
3rd AUS Will Ryan & Max Bryden - 11 points
4th NZL Simon Cooke & Scott Illingworth - 12 points
5th NZL Andy Maloney & Blair Tuke - 16 points
6th AUS Sam Kivell & Max Taylor - 18 points
7th BRA Marcos Adler & Bruno Faria - 19 points
8th NZL Derek Scott & Jamie Hunt – 21 points
9th GER Ferdinand Gerz & Bastian Henning – 22 points
10th ITA Edoardo Mancinelli & Scotti Lorenzo De Felice – 22 points

Women’s Division Preliminary Results
Top Ten after Day One

1st NZL Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie - 2 points
2nd NZL Shelley Hesson & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher – 6 points
3rd GER Imke Brockerhoff & Hannah Schwich Duisburger – 12 points
4th NZL Leah Moncheur & Briar Dye-Hutchinson – 15 points
5th NZL Sarah Berry & Emma Berry - 18 points
6th ITA Eugenia De Giacomo & Lisa Lardani - 18 points
7th NZL Samantha Osborne & Jenna Hansen - 18 points
8th NZL Susannah Pyatt & Danielle Bowater - 21 points
9th AUS Stephanie Flukes & Emma Flukes – 25 points
10th FRA Marina Laulanet & Mathilde Gayon - 26 points

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