Close battle for Worlds place

The New Zealand 420 World Selection Trial continues to produce some close racing

Points are close at the New Zealand 420 Worlds Selection Trials currently taking place at Takapuna Boating Club. Sailors are competing for a spot in the New Zealand team to sail at the 420 World Championships in January.

Currently Simon Cooke and Scott Illingworth, on 13 points have the lead over current World Champions Carl Evans and Peter Burling in the Open fleet, who have 16 points.$ Rowan Swanson and Bruce Kennedy are third at this halfway point in the series.

As current World Champions, Evans and Burling have automatic entry into the World Championships and a further 14 New Zealand spots are up for grabs in the Open division.

Shelley Hesson and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher have had three race wins in the women’s division and have the lead on seven points, with Sarah Bilkey and Rosie Sargisson lying second on ten points. Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie are third, a further three points back.

Conditions were light and fluky on day one, however a more consistent 15 knot breeze built on Sunday; day two of the four day regatta. Six races have been sailed so far over two days with further racing today and tomorrow.

After weeks of gusty south westerly’s in Auckland, conditions over the remainder of the Trials regatta are forecast to be light. Three races are scheduled today, and the same is planned for tomorrow. After racing tomorrow the top qualifiers will have confirmed their position to sail at the same venue for the 420 World Championships 2007 starting on 3 January.

The top seven qualifiers in the Open division and the Women’s division will represent New Zealand with a further fourteen spots to be decided at the Pre-World regatta between Christmas and New Year.

To follow are the top ten results for both the Open and the Women’s division following the conclusion of racing on day two, half way through the regatta.

420 Boys:

1-Simon Cooke and Scott Illingworth – 13 points
2-Carl Evans and Peter Burling – 16 points
3-Rowan Swanson and Bruce Kennedy – 18 points
4-Daniel Wilcox and Mathew Jones – 20 points
5-Paul Snow-Hansen and Chris Dawson – 21 points
6-Alistair Thompson and Jason Saunders – 23 points
7-Thomas Olds and Martin Pike – 32 points
8-Mike Snow-Hansen and Josh McCormack – 33 points
9-Derek Scott and Jamie Hunt – 33 points
10-Michael Langley and Sam Marshall – 48 points

420 Girls:

1-Shelley Hesson and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher – 7 points
2-Sarah Bilkey and Rosie Sargisson – 10 points
3-Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie – 13 points
4-Georgina Hill an Nichola Trudgen - 19 points
5-Sarah Berry and Emma Berry – 20 points
6-Stephanie Hazard and Cindy Hazard – 30 points
7-Susannah Pyatt and Danielle Bowater – 32 points
8-Alexandra Davies and Maddy Urry – 35 points
9-Stephanie Lovelock and Ash-Leigh Campbell – 41 points
10-Samantha Osbourne and Jenna Hansen – 48 points