Sail Auckland 2012 is now half way completed and the results are starting to take shape for competitive finishes.

New Zealand’s selected Olympians for 2012 are all proving their status as top in their fleet of NZ, and two National Champions are about to emerge as favourable conditions continued today.

The NZL Sailing Team’s Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders (Mens 470), Jo Aleh and Olivia Powire (Womens 470), Andrew Murdoch (Laser), Sara Winther (Laser Radial) and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er) are all atop their fleet. The other four members of the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Team are not at this event as JP Tobin (Men’s RS:X ) is giving time for his foot wound to heal, and Women’s Match Racing is not part of Sail Auckland, so Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Susannah Pyatt have a chance to cheer on their teammates from the shore.

“Conditions have been pretty tricky actually; the easterly today was shifty and hard to get right.” Jo Aleh is sailing in the 470 mixed fleet with sailing partner Olivia Powrie, and sits third overall and top females. “Things haven’t been quite right on our boat, we’ve often struggled for pace.”

“We’ve had alot of races where somebody shoots 400m ahead right away after the start”. Jo continued to tell about her experience at Sail Auckland 2012, sailed from the Royal Akarana Yacht Club for the first time. “It’s pretty similar to sailing from Kohi (Kohimarama Yacht Club), we’re racing in the same spot really. Launching has been great and pretty easy too.”

One of Akarana Yacht Club’s local sailors, Craig Coulam is sitting in second overall with Adrienne Rekke in the Flying fifteen as their National Championship draws to a close tomorrow. “There are five boats that could take the win” Craig explained how close the racing is in this fleet.

“The guys who are winning are Alister and Aaron from Canterbury; they’re a pretty on form boat to beat, so if you bet them you’re doing pretty good.” Craig and Adrienne were right up there with the lead boat on multiple occasions today.

“We did get a first in the last race, but we were OCS. We didn’t know, and only just found out now as we saw the results sheet.” This crew from Royal Akarana Yacht Club are hopeful that they can catch up tomorrow, but acknowledge the skill of the leaders Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands.

“They are pretty good, they’ve won the national championships about seven times and they’ve done well at the World Championships twice.” Craig said.

The Access Liberty National Championships also end on Monday and is expected to have a close finish too. Today, Brendan Tourelle of Sailability Auckland has reeled in several points on leader John Buchanan, and is within striking distance of winning the National Championship, as is Lindsay McGregor.

Several other fleets saw drastic changes in the overall standings. For example, the Women’s RS:X now sees Kohimarama Yacht Club’s Steffanie Williams in the lead, with Australia’s Jessica Crisp and the NZL Sailing Team’s Natalia Kosinska only a handful of points behind. The highly competitive Men’s RS:X standings have remained the same today, with Switzerland’s Richard Stauffacher maintaining a narrow lead over 2011 Men’s RS:X World Champion Dorian Van Rijsselberghe of the Netherlands.

Racing continues on Monday, Waitangi Day, from 11:00.

Getting in behind Sail Auckland is a team of dedicated sponsors including The Orakei Marina, Auckland Council, The Lion Foundation, Te Waihou Reserve New Zealand Spring Water and DB Breweries.

Sail Auckland 2012 Provisional Standings

Day 2 – Olympic Classes
Laser top three
1st NZL Andrew Murdoch – 6pts
2nd NZL Andy Maloney- 12 pts
3rd KOR Jee Min Ha- 17pts

Laser Radial top three
1st NZL Sara Winther- 7pts
2nd NZL Logan Dunning Beck- 19th
3rd NZL Andrew McKenzie- 23pts

470 top three
1st NZL Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders – 6pts
2nd KOR Chang Ju Kim & Kim Ji Hoon- 14pts
3rd NZL Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie- 22pts

Finn top three
1st NZL Matt Coutts- 5 pts
2nd NZL Karl Purdie- 12 pts
3rd NZL Brad Douglas- 14pts

RS:X 9.5 (Men) top three
1st SUI Richard Stauffahcer- 8pts
2nd NED Dorian van Rijsselberge -10pts
3rd KOR Tae Hoon Lee- 17 pts

RS:X 8.5 (Women and youth) top three
1st NZL Steffanie Williams- 8pts
2nd AUS Jessica Crisp- 12pts
3rd NZL Natalia Kosinska- 16pts

49er top two
1st NZL Peter Burling and Blair Tuke- 9pts
2nd NZL Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski- 12pts

Day 2 Paralympic Classes
2.4 metre top three
1st NZL Brett Willcock- 6 pts
2nd NZL Paul Francis- 9 pts
3rd NZL Josh McKenzie Brown- 13pts

SKUD18 top two
1st NZL Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel – 5pts
2nd NZL Russell Phillips and Quentin Smith- 10pts

Day 2- National Championships
Flying 15 National Championship top three
1st NZL Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands- 6pts
2nd NZL Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke- 12pts
3rd NZL Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert- 16pts

Access Liberty National Championship top three
1st John Buchanan- 7pts
2nd Brendon Tourelle- 10pts
3rd Lindsay McGregor- 13pts

Day 2 – Other Invited Classes
420 top three
1st NZL Erica Dawson and Vicky Francis- 15pts
2nd NZL Gemma Jones and Tomer Simhony- 18pts
3rd NZL Taylor Burn and Oscar Rovick- 19pts

29er top two
1st NZL Trent Rippey and Alex Munro- 7pts
2nd NZL Markus Sommerville and Jack Simpson- 13pts

Access 303
1st NZL Robbie Love and Katy Kenah- 5pts

Daily results can be found online the event website www.sailauckland.org.nz and facebook page www.facebook.com/SailAKL

-Ends-

Schedule:
Monday 6 February- 11:00am start of three races for all classes (skiffs have four races)
*final day of racing for the Flying Fifteen and Access Class National Championships, prize giving at 6:30pm
Tuesday 7 February- 11:00am start of two races for all classes (skiffs have three).
*The awards presentation for Sail Auckland 2012 will be as soon as possible after racing on Sunday.

A media boat will be available for legitimate media to view, photograph and film on the water. Spots will be on a first come first serve basis, and interested media can contact Kristine Lederis via the information below.

Images are available via the Sail Auckland facebook page www.facebook.com/sailAKL

Yachting New Zealand will be issuing a daily wrap-up as soon as possible after racing concludes daily February 4th – 7th.

Media Enquiries
Kristine Lederis
Yachting New Zealand Communications
Kristine@yachitngnz.org.nz
021 871 301

Event Enquiries
Suellen Hurling
Royal Akarana Yacht Club Communications
suellen@rayc.org.nz
021 892 004

After much anticipation, Sail Auckland 2012 has begun in near perfect conditions for 237 sailors in the Olympic, Paralympic and other invited classes.

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club and a team of over seventy volunteers put on three races for all classes (and four for the skiffs) on four courses scattered off the shores of Tamaki Drive with moderate easterly breezes. The NZL Sailing Team members were in fine form at the top of all Olympic classes they are racing in, although it is only day one of this four day regatta.

“Today was good. I got a 1, 1, 2” Sara Winther, selected Olympian for 2012 and New Zealand Laser Radial National Champion currently sits at the top of the Laser Radial fleet. “Having the mixture of top youth and masters in the fleet here is great. It’s the best thing for me at the moment really, because it pushes me that much harder”.

Scott Leith, two times Laser Radial Apprentice Master World Champion was in hot pursuit of Sara Winther around the course all day, and was the one who stole the lead from her on the last race. “I was a bit deep at the top mark because I got caught up in a few boats. I did have a good comeback to climb my way back up to second, but Scott was just too far behind” Sara said.

Andrew Murdoch got three bullets in the Laser Full Rig while Paul Snow Hansen with Jason Saunders in the 470 and Natalia Kosinska in the 8.5m RS:X are all sitting first overall.

Sail Auckland this year is also home to the Flying Fifteen and Access Liberty National Championships. Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands currently sit atop the Flying Fifteen fleet, closely followed by local sailors Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke. John Buchanan of Auckland leads the Access Liberty fleet after the first three races.

There are seventeen entries for the Flying Fifteen National Championships, and eleven in the Access Liberty fleet, sailed by athletes with a disability.
“To have eleven liberties is excellent, that’s a good sized fleet”. Tim Dempsey is campaigning toward the 2012 Paralympic games in the SKUD 18, but is also involved as racing coordinator for the Access Class Association.

“There were some pretty exciting finishes there!”Sailing in the faster SKUD 18 Skiff which finished a few minutes ahead of the Liberties, Tim was able to study the other boats as they crossed the finish line in close competition. “The upwind finish is always more exciting because there’s one more chance to pass rather than just following the downwind”.

This weekend Tim with sailing partner Jan Apel are only racing against one other pairing as there are only two boats in the country. “Last year we had five SKUDS at Sail Auckland because we had a sponsored container from Australia”.

Getting in behind Sail Auckland is a team of dedicated sponsors including The Orakei Marina, Auckland Council, The Lion Foundation, Te Waihou Reserve New Zealand Spring Water and DB Breweries.

Sail Auckland 2012 Provisional Results

Day 1 – Olympic Classes

Laser top three
1st NZLAndrew Murdoch – 3pts
2nd NZL Andrew Maloney- 8 pts
3rd KOR Jee Min Ha- 13pts

Laser Radial top three
1st NZL Sara Winther- 4pts
2nd NZL Scott Leith- 11pts
3rd NZL Andrew McKenzie- 15pts

470 top three
1st NZL Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders – 4pts
2nd KOR Chang Ju Kim & Kim Ji Hoon- 10pts
3rd NZL Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie- 15pts

Finn top three
1st NZL Matt Coutts- 3 pts
2nd NZL Brad Douglas- 8pts
3rd NZL Karl Purdie- 10 pts

RS:X 9.5 (Men) top three
1st SUI Richard Stauffahcer- 5pts
2nd NED Dorian van Rijsselberge -7pts
3rd KOR Tae Hoon Lee- 12 pts

RS:X 8.5 (Women and youth) top three
1st NZL Natalia Kosinska- 6pts
2nd AUS Jessica Crisp- 7pts
3rd NZL Justina Sellers- 12pts

49er top two
1st NZL Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski- 6pts
2nd NZL Peter Burling and Blair Tuke- 7pts

Day 1-Paralympic Classes

2.4 metre top three
1st NZL Brett Willcock- 5 pts
2nd NZL Paul Francis- 6 pts
3rd NZL Josh McKenzie Brown- 7pts

SKUD18 top two
1st NZL Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel – 3pts
2nd NZL Russell Phillips and Quentin Smith- 6pts

Day 1- National Championships

Flying 15 National Championship top three
1st NZL Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands- 4pts
2nd NZL Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke- 5pts
3rd NZL Murray Gilbert and John Burgess- 11pts

Access Liberty National Championship top three
1st John Buchanan- 4pts
2nd Lindsay McGregor- 7pts
3rd Michael Jones- 10pts

Day 1 – Other Invited Classes

420 top three
1st NZL Erica Dawson and Vicky Francis- 3pts
2nd NZL Taylor Burn and Oscar Rovick- 10pts
3rd NZL Olivia Mckay and Gen Saunders- 20pts

29er top two
1st NZL Trent Rippey and Alex Munro- 5pts
2nd NZL Markus Sommerville and Jack Simpson- 7pts

Access 303
1st NZL Robbie Love and Katy Kenah

Full results can be found online the event website www.sailauckland.org.nz and facebook page www.facebook.com/SailAKL

Racing continues on Sunday at from 11:00

-Ends-

Schedule:
Sunday 5 February – 11:00am start of three races for all classes (skiff’s have four races)
Monday 6 February- 11:00am start of three races for all classes (skiffs have four races)
*final day of racing for the Flying Fifteen and Access Class National Championships
Tuesday 7 February- 11:00am start of two races for all classes (skiffs have three).
The awards presentation will be as soon as possible after racing on Sunday.

A media boat is available for legitimate media to view, photograph and film on the water. Spots will be on a first come first serve basis, and interested media can contact Kristine Lederis via the information below.

Images are available via the Sail Auckland facebook page www.facebook.com/sailAKL

Yachting New Zealand will be issuing a daily wrap-up as soon as possible after racing concludes daily February 4th – 7th.

Media Enquiries
Kristine Lederis
Yachting New Zealand Communications
Kristine@yachitngnz.org.nz
021 871 301

Event Enquiries
Suellen Hurling
Royal Akarana Yacht Club Communications
suellen@rayc.org.nz
021 892 004

For the first time in its sixteen year history, Sail Auckland will be hosted at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. More than two hundred competitors from thirteen countries begin racing on the Waitemata Harbour on Saturday February 4th in the Olympic, Paralympic and other invited classes.

Staged on four courses in the surrounds of Bean Rock, Motukorea Channel and Mechanics Bay, twelve classes will square off at New Zealand’s premier ISAF Grade 1 event, including two national championships (Flying Fifteen and Access Liberty). Competing Classes include the RS:X windsurfers, Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 420, 470, 29er, 49er, Flying Fifteen, SKUD 18, Access Liberty, Access 303 & 2.4mR.

“This is the first time our club has run an ISAF Grade 1 Olympic and Paralympic class event.” Royal Akarana Yacht Club’s Commodore Matthew Woodley is says that this event is significant for the 117 year old club, “We are thrilled to be involved in Sail Auckland this year and look forward to hosting a fantastic regatta.”

New Zealand’s top sailors including most of the NZL Sailing Team, and those that have been selected for the London 2012 Olympic Games will be racing at this event. This is a rare opportunity for New Zealand youth to be sailing amongst their Olympic heroes, and for all of the NZL Sailing Team to be racing on home waters.

Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders are looking forward to competing against some locals in the Mens’ 470 class before they head overseas to prepare for the Olympic Games. “I think it will be really good to go racing with the boats from around here, there will be fourteen boats which is a bigger fleet for Sail Auckland again” Said Jason.

The pair of 21 year olds hope to keep up with NZ’s Womens 470 Olympic representatives Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie. Jason continued; “Jo and Polly are going to be competitive. It will be a good benchmark for us to race against them again. The juniors will be pretty race ready too after just finishing the 470 Junior Worlds at Takapuna, there should be good competition”.

This year promises exciting racing with New Zealand’s best and international competition in most of the Olympic and Paralympic classes, and the event is now reaching further into the development classes such as the 420, 29er, Access Liberty and Flying fifteen. Racing will conclude on Tuesday February 7th.

Sail Auckland has been New Zealand’s premier Olympic class event for more that fifteen years, and was granted ISAF Grade 1 status six years ago. It was originally formed to foster and promote Olympic Class sailing within NZ, and to provide opportunity for international competition without the expense of travel.

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club has stepped up to the challenge of running this event for the first time in 2012. The club is accustomed to running trailer yacht and keelboat and offshore events such as the Nexus Cup inshore series, Platu 25 fleet racing, and the Sail Noumea Yacht Race. This is relatively unchartered waters for the club to host such a large scale Olympic class regatta, and they are well prepared with assistance from other local clubs such as last year’s host Takapuna Boating Club and Kohimarma Yacht Club who created and ran the event for nearly fifteen years.

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club is also preparing to host the 2012 New Zealand Open Keelboat Championships in early March.

Getting in behind Sail Auckland 2012 is a team of dedicated sponsors including Te Waihou Reserve New Zealand Spring Water and the Lion Foundation.

Daily results can be found online the event website www.sailauckland.org.nz and facebook page www.facebook.com/SailAKL

…Ends…

Media are invited to the welcome event at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club on Friday February 3rd 7:00pm. RSVP to suellen@rayc.org.nz

A media boat will be available for legitimate media to view, photograph and film on the water. Spots will be on a first come first serve basis, and interested media can contact Kristine Lederis via the information below.

Images will be available via the Sail Auckland website with a link to the official photographer.

Yachting New Zealand will be issuing a daily wrap-up as soon as possible after racing concludes daily February 4th – 7th.

Media Enquiries
Kristine Lederis
Yachting New Zealand Communications
Kristine@yachitngnz.org.nz
021 871 301

Event Enquiries
Suellen Hurling
Royal Akarana Yacht Club Communications
suellen@rayc.org.nz
021 892 004