By JULIE ASH
New Zealand's performance at the Athens 2003 regatta bodes well for next month's ISAF world championships, says Yachting New Zealand's high- performance manager Peter Lester.
Europe sailor Sarah Macky was the top New Zealand performer at the regatta, which finished in Greece yesterday.
Macky finished fifth in her
last race which saw her tied for third overall. She was awarded the bronze medal after a count back on points.
"The next Olympics are potentially her time, given her age and her experience," Lester said
"For her to actually win a medal in the pre-Olympics is significant. It is a great effort because she has been there or thereabouts for the last couple of years, so to get up and secure a placing at that event is a huge confidence boost for her in a venue that is particularly challenging."
Boardsailors Barbara Kendall and Jon-Paul Tobin were New Zealand's next best.
Kendall, the world mistral champion, finished the competition on a high, winning her final race and finishing sixth overall, while Tobin also finished sixth in the men's class.
The class ended up two races short of the scheduled 11 events when officials insisted on maintaining the plan of only one race for any class on the final day of racing.
The Yngling crew of Alesha Thorpe, Karen Lambert and Michelle Vinsen finished eighth, while four other New Zealand crews and Finn sailor Clifton Webb narrowly missed out on top-10 finishes.
"We are saying that a top-10 finish a year out from the Games means you are an Olympic medal possibility," Lester said.
Along with examining the form of their opposition, the regatta also gave the New Zealand team a chance to have a test run on the Olympic course.
"On course, the conditions for our sport are difficult," Lester said.
"It is very variable, with big wind shifts and big velocity changes, but when you look at the results the good people still win because they adapt, train in it and acclimatise to it."
Thirteen New Zealand crews and 18 individual sailors will now compete in the ISAF world championships in Cadiz, Spain, from September 11-15. The event is a qualifier for the Olympics.
New Zealand has already qualified in the men's and women's mistral classes and the men's 470. "We have got the provision for people to finish in the top five in Cadiz and if no other Kiwi finishes in the top 10, then they will be the nomination," Lester said.
