Sailing: Bay sailors crowd top of table

Tauranga multihull crew Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders are lying 8th in the 2013 Nacra 17 World Championship standings where points are close at the top of the leaderboard after five races.

Competing in the inaugural 2013 Nacra 17 World Championship in The Hague which boasts an impressive 65-boat fleet, Jones and Saunders are proving themselves as solid contenders in this new Olympic class with some excellent race results.

Three races were sailed with the Kiwis placed 20th in the opener, then 3rd and 4th in the subsequent races and are 8th overall at the midway mark.

The 2013 Finn European Championship under way in Warnemunde, Germany, has also hit the midway mark and with six races sailed New Zealanders Josh Junior and Andrew Murdoch (Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club) both feature in the top five sailors after another solid day on the water.

Adding a 2, 6, 12 in yesterday's three races Junior is the best-placed of the Kiwis in the 103-strong Finn Europeans fleet.

Junior is in fourth overall, just four points from the lead.

"It was pretty tricky really, and a long start line, which means you have to get a good start, which I didn't, but I managed to fight my way through with good downwind speed to get three good results," Junior said. "So I am pretty happy, and I am really enjoying it. And looking forward to the next two days of racing.

"I want to just keep knocking off small things so just keep getting good results and I think a couple of good starts to make sure I get closer to the front. If I can get some good starts then maybe I can get near a medal."

Visilij Zbogar from Slovenia still holds the lead with 22 points, France's Jonathan Lobert is one point behind in second, while Ed Wright (GBR) is in third with 25 points. Junior is one point back from Wright.

Now in 5th overall with 30 points is Tauranga-based Andrew Murdoch who produced more solid race results placing 4th, 5th and 11th in the three races sailed.

New Zealand's current standings

• 
  2013 Finn European Championship, Warnemunde, Germany
• 
  4th Josh Junior (28, 5, 1, 2, 6, 12)
• 
  5th Andrew Murdoch (13, 4, 6, 4, 5, 11)
• 
  2013 Nacra 17 World Championship, The Hague, Netherlands
• 
  8th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (7, 3, 20, 3, 4)
• 
  37th Nicole van der Velden and Tomer Simhony
• 
  59th Gareth Moore and Vickery Francis (7, 3, 20, 3, 4)
• 
  37th Nicole van der Velden and Tomer Simhony
• 
  59th Gareth Moore and Vickery Francis