Windsurfing New Zealand

Yachting New Zealand is pleased to announce the 2008 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team today. This team of ten sailors will travel to Arhus, Denmark in July to represent New Zealand at the ISAF Youth World Championships. The 2008 ISAF Youth World Championships is set to be one of the biggest ever with 59 nations and 250 sailors already signed up to compete in Denmark from 10-19 July.
The New Zealand team includes…

A silver and a bronze, but not for windsurfing.

RS:X Women (59 boards), Steffanie Williams – 24th, Kate Ellingham – 29th. RS:X Men (92 boards), Mike Kilduff – 74th

WSSRC Ratifies ALBEAU's Outright Speed Record. The World Sailing Speed Record Council has ratified the Outright World Speed Record of 49.09 knots set by Antoine ALBEAU of France. Antoine ALBEAU (FRA) set the new outright world speed
record mark on the purpose built canal in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, France http://www.speedworldcup.com/press-releases/wssrc-ratifies-albeaus-outri...

In order to help newcomers to sailboat racing, ISAF have produced a one page set of Introductory Rules for Racing complete with some explanatory diagrams. The aim of the Introductory Rules for Racing is simple; make as it easy as possible for people to start racing. Consequently the Introductory Rules are as basic as possible, although they remain compatible with the principles and fundamental rules in the full ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).

Tom Ashley from New Zealand has secured the 2008 RS:X Men’s World Championship in the medal race sailed in blustery conditions off Takapuna beach. Alessandra Sensini has taken out the women’s title with a win in the medal race today.

South easterly winds gusting to 25 knots were seen for the first time during this event and the medal races took place close to shore with a crowd of spectators on the beach and nearby ramp.

In the mens medal race JP Tobin placed 3rd and Tom Ashley 4th, Zubari (Ashleys greatest threat) placed 9th, and 1st and 2nd were well back coming in, so this should be Toms event. The womens medal race has just started (12:50), this is the decider between Kendall and Sensini. At mark 1 Sensini leads, Barbara is 1 min behind in 4th. Wind is 15-20 knots. ark 2, Sensini leads, Barbara in 3rd 29s behind.

The top sailors at the RS:X World Championships in Takapuna sailed just one race today following which the overall standings determine the top ten to sail tomorrow’s medal race.

Alessandra Sensini ITA closed the gap on overnight leader Barbara Kendall NZL and the old rivals go into the world championships medal race on equal points. Faustine Merret FRA and Marina Alabau ESP are tied up both on 33 points, twelve points adrift of the leaders.

Twelve countries are fighting it out in the women’s silver fleet for one of seven Olympic places to be decided at the RS:X Windsurfing World Championships in Takapuna. Lying third in the silver fleet Napalai Tansai of Thailand is best placed going into day five of the regatta and looks set to earn a place for her country. Mexico, Hungary, Argentina, Russia, Cyprus and USA are in line to earn a place based on current standings though three races remain and points are close.

Silver fleets are racing first. Antonio Cozzolino (NZL131) takes win in mens silver race 9 while Joshua Nixon placed 7th. Cozzolino is now 2nd overall in the Silver Fleet, Nixon is 11th. In the Womens Silver Fleet Steffanie Williams is the best placed kiwi at 12th overall. The Gold fleets have yet to sail owing to light winds (4:45pm)