NZL Sailing Team at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres - Day 3

ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres has hit the mid way mark and many of the NZL Sailing Team continue to inch up the standings with Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke leading the charge both now holding the overall lead.

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie © Franck Socha / Yvan Zedda / ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech have moved into the top three in the 49erFX, Andy Maloney lies third in the Laser, Josh Junior is in fourth in the Finn and Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski are fourth in the 49er.

In the Women's 470 Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie placed 2nd in both today's two gold fleet races and take the lead by two points from Sophie Weguelin and Eilich McIntyre (GBR).

Jo Aleh reports; "Another solid day for us out on the water today."

"Once we finally got racing, after waiting for the two men's fleets to have a few general recalls, we had a pretty solid day, working our way back through to get 2nd in both races. The British girls had a great day though with a 1, 1, so still some work for us to do."

Over in the 49er class the gold fleet sailed three races and Burling and Tuke used them to take the lead and extend a points margin to stand 11 clear of chasing rivals Ryan Seaton and Mathew Mcgovern (IRL). The overnight leaders, from Britain, slipped to third place with New Zealand's Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski now hot on their heals in fourth place.

Blair Tuke says; "Gold fleet racing's always the best, all the top guys in one fleet,"

"For us it could have been better but all in all not a bad day. We mucked up the last one. We went through qualification better than we did in Palma which was one of our goals so we were really excited coming into the day."

"Gold fleet racing is where it's all at. It's where the points are up for grabs and you want to get the least you can. It's still all to play for."

Maintaining consistency Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech continue to climb the ranks in the 49erFX class and now lie third overall after three days of racing. Today they sailed three races ending the day on a high note with their first race win of the regatta.

Maloney comments, "It was really nice conditions, a little more breeze than expected and it was nice to stretch out again. It's always nice to get a bullet and it helps with confidence, it was a solid day and we're looking forward to the next three days."

In the Finn class Josh Junior had his best day in Hyeres yet and lifted his overall position from seventh up to fourth as a result. While Pieter-Jan Postma of the Netherlands dominates with a massive points lead, the chasing pack, including the kiwi, is in a tight bunch. Junior has 30 points, just two adrift of second place putting him in a good position to attack over the remaining races.

In the Laser class New Zealand holds two top ten places with Andy Maloney once again leading the kiwi contingent. Today he added his second race win of the regatta and the Murrays Bay Sailing Club representative is now lying third overall behind Australia's Tom Burton and Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic.

After another solid day Sam Meech retains seventh place, while Thomas Saunders sailed well today to climb ten places on the leader-board.

Across the other fleets Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders sailed well in the Nacra 17 and are now in 14th. Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox are lying 29th in the Men's 470 and Sara Winther is the best placed kiwi in the Laser Radial in 19th place. Jon-Paul Tobin lies 18th in the Men's RS:X and Natalia Kosinska is in 15th in the Women's division.

Racing resumes in Hyeres tomorrow with another three days remaining. Medals will be decided on April 26th.

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