Sailing: Bronze for Maloney

New Zealand sailor Andy Maloney. Photo / John Stone.

Andy Maloney's bronze medal finish at the laser world championships in Germany was the major result registered by the New Zealand sailing team overnight.

This podium finish is a personal best for Maloney and comes just two weeks after a silver medal-performance at the ISAF World Cup regatta Semaine Olympique Francaise and five months after his previous personal best of a 13th place at the 2011 world championships.

Sam Meech, who like Maloney is just 21 years old, finished 17th - his best result at an open world championships.

Andrew Murdoch, New Zealand's Olympic representative in the Laser class, also finished on a high note by winning the last race but wound up 25th overall. Thomas Saunders was 86th and Michael Cate was 101st.

In the star class, which is being raced in France, Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner won their race and secured the country's qualification spot for the Olympic Games. They are sixth overall with just one race to go.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke had another strong day at the 49er world championships, also being contested in France, and have progressed up the leaderboard to sit second overall behind reigning world champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen.

Burling and Tuke finished with silver at the 2011 ISAF world championship.

Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, Burling and Tuke's training partners who are both just 19-years-old, are also in fine form and currently sit 12th.

There is one more full day of racing before the medal race tomorrow night.

Most other remaining Olympic representatives will be starting their world championship run later in the week, with the finns starting at Falmouth and 470s in Barcelona on May 13, and the laser radial last to start on May 15.

The RS:X world championships were sailed in March, and JP Tobin came away with a bronze medal, setting the bar high for the team to follow.

Laser World Championships
3rd - Andy Maloney
17th - Sam Meech
25th - Andrew Murdoch
86th - Thomas Saunders
101st - Michael Cate