Yachting: NZ boats in gold medal contention

Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie. Photo / NZ Herald

Two New Zealand boats were in gold medal position at the pre-Olympic Sail for Gold yachting regatta in England as the event headed into its final stages last night (NZT).

The New Zealand yachting team had nine entries starting in seven of those medal races in the final day - including Olympic champion Tom Ashley in the RS:X, who lies ninth after battling ill health through the regatta.

The 470 women's pairing of Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie and boardsailor Jon-Paul Tobin sat atop their respective fleets off Weymouth at a venue being used for next year's Olympic Games. Laser sailor Andrew Murdoch was also in contention for a medal; lying second after the penultimate day of racing.

The 470 crew held a 16-point lead over their nearest rivals after finishing second and seventh in their two races to be well clear of French pair of Camille Lecointre and Mathilde Geron.

Tobin had his lead in the men's RS:X event cut to one point after England's Nick Dempsey had a win and a third placing while Tobin recorded a second and fourth.

Murdoch trailed Australian Tom Slingsby by eight points in the Laser class after he failed to make the most of an off-day for the leader to finish eighth and 19th.

Ninth-placed Andy Maloney joined Murdoch in the Laser medal race while sixth-placed Dan Slater was to start the final day in sixth in the Finn class and needed to make up a 16-point deficit for a medal.

Sara Winther was ninth in Laser Radial while Star sailors Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk held the same position and Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders also secured a medal race start in the men's 470.

- NZPA