Sailing: Frustrating day for land-locked Kiwis

7.30am

ATHENS - The majority of New Zealand's Olympic sailors spent a frustrating day waiting to race after sailing officials postponed all but two regattas overnight (NZ time).

New Zealand manager Don Cowie questioned the decision, saying the shifty "meltemi" winds were no different than yesterday when a full day of racing was completed.

"It was a nice breeze out there and was pretty fresh at times -- it got up to about 25 knots -- but it was certainly not too fresh to race the Olympic Games," he said.

The reluctance of officials to race in conditions that Europe sailor Sarah Macky and Hamish Pepper in his Laser would have relished is a worrying sign, Cowie told NZPA.

The men's and women's 470s also did not get an opportunity to race today, with both their races postponed and rescheduled for tomorrow.

"They had some issues with start markers and we had some issues with that again today," Cowie said.

"[The sailors] need to get out there and start some racing otherwise they will end up behind schedule and in a situation that the racing isn't fair. Today the conditions were fair and equal."

New Zealand Finn sailor Dean Baker and the Yngling trio of Sharon Ferris, Joanna White and Kylie Jameson completed their races.

The Team New Zealand skipper dropped from fourth to ninth place overall after finishing seventh in his first race of the day and fifth of the regatta, but found the going tough in the second round to come 16th -- his worst result to date.

Britain's Ben Ainslie leads the fleet ahead of Spain's Rafael Trujillo.

The Yngling crew are in 6th place overall, nine net points away from a silver medal.

Crew member Joanna White said that at the mid-way point in their regatta they have made steady progress to be in the top 10 after a poor start.

"We are aiming for a medal. We had a shocker in the first day but I think the way that we have gone in the last few days has been on the up and up and we are in a position to start fighting," White said.

"It's over halfway now so it's time to start looking at the end result."

With lighter winds expected during the next few days, White told NZPA conditions will test their tactical nous.

"It is so close and everyone is up and down so much that one mistake is going to cost you," she said. "It is completely wide open and with the light breeze, that could completely change the game."

The crew and Barker's Finn class have a lay-day tomorrow, while postponed races in the Europe, 470s and Laser classes have been rescheduled for tomorrow.

New Zealand men's Mistral boardsailor Thomas Ashley will have an extra chance to stake his claim after the first race of the regatta was scrapped because of a race committee error.

The three-loop course was not properly completed by the entire fleet so Ashley's 17th place does not count.

He will contest the race again and tomorrow will compete in three races instead of two as a result.

- NZPA