Sailing: Tauranga yachties off to good start at world titles

Thomas Saunders, from the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, in action at the Sailing World Championships. PHOTO/JESUS RENEDO/SAILING ENERGY

Tauranga sailors continue to set the pace for the Kiwis at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander on the northern coast of Spain.

On day two, the laser, radial and men's and women's windsurfers were doing battle in the qualifying rounds for their respective world titles.

With no wind once again in the morning, sailors had to wait ashore before a light breeze arrived. As the day progressed there was rain showers and shifty breezes, yet despite this the NZL Sailing team sailors came away with some good results.

Thomas Saunders and Sam Meech, from the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, are in contention. In the laser, Meech started the day with a 2nd placing and now lies 14th overall. His second race of the day was a 43rd, which he can discard from his point score, but Meech now needs to remain consistent to keep up with the frontrunners.

Saunders, aged 22 and New Zealand's youngest laser competitor, remains well placed in 15th, just one point adrift of Meech. Saunders recorded a 22nd and a 5th in racing on day two.

Andy Maloney has climbed to 29th, like his teammates taking one single-digit race with a 4th in race four. Sara Winther is now in 15th place in the women's laser radial event where 120 boats are racing for the crown. A 10th and a 13th from her two races saw Winther climb the ranks after lying 20th overnight.

Racing got under way for Natalia Kosinska and Jon-Paul Tobin representing New Zealand in the windsurfing events.

Kosinska is in 17th place in the women's fleet after placing 10th, 5th and 18th. In the men's fleet, Whakatane's Tobin, New Zealand's 2012 Olympian, came away from day one with two top-10 results - a 9th and a 10th - to lie 16th overall.

Points are very close at this early stage in the series and the Kiwi riders will be back on the water for more racing.

The 49er skiff racing starts today, with Tauranga's Peter Burling and Molly Meech in action, while Tauranga clubmate Jason Saunders starts in the Nacra 17 mixed multihull.

National qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics is also on offer at the world titles regatta.