Wind and waves delivered exciting and challenging racing on day one as competition got underway for the NZL Sailing Team sailors in Palma de Mallorca, Spain at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma, also known as Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta.
Sam Meech was New Zealand’s standout of the day placing 2nd in
his two races today in the Laser fleet, with team mate Andy Maloney
also on the pace with a 5th and a 3rd. Overall they sit 3rd (equal)
and 7th respectively in what is the largest fleet in Palma
comprising around 110 sailors split into two fleets for qualifying
racing.
“It was a breezy day one of the ISAF Sailing World Cup here in
Palma; 20-30 knots with massive waves! Besides making some unforced
mistakes, I had good pace and came away with a couple of decent
results to start off the week,” says Andy Maloney.
NZL Sailing Team’s third Laser sailor Thomas Saunders also
started solidly with a 6th and a 14th in his two qualifying
races.
New Zealand’s new pairing in the Men’s 470, partnering 2012
Olympian helm Paul Snow-Hansen with crew Daniel Willcox (pictured)
also sailed strongly on day one. Their day one results, an 11th and
a 3rd, sees them also well inside the top ten in their event at the
end of day one, lying 7th.
“Race one was in a building breeze of about 15-17 knots. We were
going well but slipped a few places in the second upwind finishing
11th. It was great to line up with some of the best in the world
and see how we are going,” reports Paul Snow-Hansen.
“Race two brought in some awesome breeze, on the upper limit of
our racing. We sailed a nice race, nailing the start and keeping
upright. We had some hairy moments out there but who didn’t! We now
have two more days of qualifications racing before we are split
into gold and silver fleets.”
The 66 boat strong Finn fleet relished the gusty conditions on
the bay of Palma, New Zealand represented by two sailors, both
converts from the Laser class, both sitting top twelve at the end
of day one.
Josh Junior placed 7th and then 26th putting him 10th overall,
while Andrew Murdoch sailed away with a 9th and an 18th to hold
12th overall.
“We had 25 knots plus and large waves for the last race today…
certainly learning a few things on the job! This is my first
international event so a great chance to line up with the rest of
the world and see what needs working on,” explains Andrew
Murdoch.
“I’ve been here for a few days training and it’s great to get
racing underway.”
The six day regatta is the European opener for the ISAF Sailing
World Cup Series and a major event for the world’s Olympic sailors
and some minor innovations to racing’s format and scoring are being
trialled by organisers.
The new scoring means that a race win is even more covetable
earning zero points in the low point scoring system, and a poor
race result is discarded earlier at race two. The qualifying series
races now have less influence, as the first race of the final
series will be a carry forward race equating to the boat’s final
rank (or standing) in the qualifying rounds.
Due to the strong winds there was no racing for the 49er fleet,
including NZL Sailing Team’s 49er sailors Marcus Hansen and Josh
Porebski (see Introducing Josh Porebski video here) or the 49erFX
featuring Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech. Jason Saunders and
Gemma Jones, entered in the Nacra 17 mixed multihull will also be
hoping to get underway tomorrow.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma – New Zealand’s standings
after day one
Finn
- 10th Josh Junior – 7, 26
- 12th Andrew Murdoch (NZL Sailing Team) – 9, 18
Laser
- 3rd = Sam Meech (NZL Sailing Team) – 2, 2
- 5th Andy Maloney (NZL Sailing Team) – 5, 3
- 19th Thomas Saunders – 7, 16
470 Men
- 7th Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox (NZL Sailing Team) – 11,
3 - 38th Francisco Lardies and Luke Stevenson – 20, 16
49er
- Macus Hansen and Josh Porebski (NZL Sailing Team) – no
racing
49erFX
- Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – no racing
Nacra 17
- Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – no racing
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