Yachting: Tobin misses by a whisker

Jon-Paul Tobin. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand windsurfer Jon-Paul Tobin has fallen just short of a podium finish at the Weymouth and Portland 2011 International Regatta despite winning yesterday's medal race.

Tobin finished the Olympic test regatta in fourth overall, just one point adrift of bronze medallist Przemyslaw Miarczynski of Poland, after going into the final race ranked sixth.

Over the course of the regatta the Kiwi placed in the top six in seven of the eleven races, rounding out the event with two race wins including the high-pressure medal race.

In the end there was just one point separating gold and silver in the men's RS:X as well, Dorian van Rijsselberge sealing gold from Nick Dempsey of Great Britain. The pair had looked a class above the rest of the fleet all regatta.

Natalia Kosinska will be pleased with her tenth place finish, finishing ninth in the women's RS:X medal race yesterday.

Olympic director Jez Fanstone and Kosinska's coach Dave Robertson have been impressed with how she has improved over recent months and are clear that this top 10 finish from her, within the Olympic test environment, is very encouraging.

"We are impressed with Natalia's performance; it's a big step up for her, her first medal race, and improving all the time," said Fanstone.

In the 49er skiff class, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke recorded a fourth and a win in their two races yesterday.

After 13 races the Kiwi pair lie in third place, five points adrift of Australians Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen who have been overtaken for the lead by Spain's Iker de Lizarduy and Xabier Fernandez Gaztanaga.

The 49er fleet will use tomorrow's scheduled rest day if possible with a view to complete the 15 race series before the medal race on Monday in Weymouth.

Andrew Murdoch, still leading the Laser event, will line up for his medal race overnight as will Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie lying seventh in the Women's 470.