Aaron McIntosh and Mark Kennedy face an anxious wait to find out if their 12th placing at the Tornado world yachting championships is enough to convince selectors they are worthy of an Olympic berth.
The pair, who had spent only three months in the boat leading up to
the championships, qualified the nation for the Beijing Games. Their fate now lies in the hands of the selectors.
Yachting New Zealand have a strict criteria for Olympic selection where sailors must prove they have the potential to win a medal at the Games. The Kiwi pair were placed in the top 10 until the penultimate day of the regatta when they dropped from seventh to 12th.
With the final day of sailing cancelled due to heavy winds and poor visibility, the duo were unable to climb back in to the top 10.
McIntosh believes his team's lack of "sailing fitness" cost them, but he and Kennedy proved over the week they could match it with the world's best. "Overall we are happy with our performance, we've shown we can mix it with the front guys. We haven't continued to sort of post those top five placings that the front guys have the ability to do, but we're not far behind," the Olympic windsurfing medallist said. "With a little bit more work on the boat, a little bit more training the Olympic Games and a podium is all a possibility."
While Yachting New Zealand may choose to nominate the pair on the strength of their performances in Takapuna, the most likely scenario is the national body will ask them to prove themselves in further international regattas.
McIntosh said he is certain with more time together his team can be worldbeaters.
Pre-regatta favourites Darren Bundock and Glen Ashby of Australia took out the world title in Takapuna after bouncing back from a horror start to the week. Canadians Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle claimed the silver with French pair Yann Guichard and Alexandre Guyader third.
