Yachting: Meech strikes gold in Laser

Tauranga's Sam Meech won gold in the Laser class at the 2014 Delta Lloyd Regatta. Photo/www.sandervanderborch.com

Tauranga sailor Sam Meech won gold in the Laser class yesterday after a stunning final day performance in Medemblik, Netherlands at the prestigious 2014 Delta Lloyd Regatta.

The regatta is an annual event on the Olympic class sailing calendar attracting some of the world's best campaigners.

The gold medal result is 23-year-old Meech's best so far in 2014.

Meech, who learned his craft sailing at the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, was lying second overall going into the final medal race.

He had a seven point gap to close on Netherlands sailor Nicholas Heiner, who led the class throughout the regatta only to stumble at the final hurdle.

"I knew it was going to be a really tough ask, given how well Nick was sailing all week, so I hoped I'd get an opportunity," Meech said.

"There were a lot of really good guys quite close behind me as well, so I knew I had to keep a gap on them as well. I hoped I'd have the chance to send Nick the wrong way and I took it.

"My experience here this year was a lot better than last year. The regatta is fantastically run. And the race management is awesome, so I'm really happy with my Delta Lloyd experience."

Other Tauranga sailors also competed with distinction at the regatta.

Thomas Saunders finished 5th and Andy Maloney a place further back in a world class field of 43 sailors in the Laser class, while Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders finished the regatta in 12th place out of 35 boats in the Nacra 17 multihull.

The NZL Sailing Team single-handed sailors will now turn their focus to the up-coming 2014 Laser European Championships in Croatia in mid June.