By SUZANNE McFADDEN
Two Kiwi sailing crews are just a boat-length away from gold medals at world championships in the Northern Hemisphere.
Olympians Melinda Henshaw and Jenny Egnot were second going into the final phase of the world 470 championships in Balaton Fured, Hungary, this morning.
America's Cup tactician Gavin Brady and crewman
Jamie Gale are also one spot off the lead in the Star world championship in Annapolis, in the United States, after winning race two yesterday in their quest for Olympic entry.
Brady admitted that their victory, from a fleet including 12 Olympic medallists, was "a bit of a surprise."
"We didn't expect to win any of these races. Our philosophy going into the regatta was to sail ultra-conservatively and just finish in the top 20," he said.
A top-20 placing would be enough to qualify New Zealand for one of the eight remaining Olympic spots. Brady and Gale, who sailed in the Soling at the 1996 Olympics, are the only contenders from New Zealand.
Across the Atlantic, Henshaw and Egnot won the first of two races on a day of very light airs.
They worked the first shifts perfectly to open a lead on the fleet of over two minutes, until the breeze died away on the last leg.
They managed to hold on for a win, and qualified for the last round of races second only to a Greek crew.
Henshaw was thrilled to have performed so well in the light winds, that Kiwi sailors usually struggle in. "We are racing in conditions that you wouldn't even leave the beach for in New Zealand," she said.
New Zealand's Olympic men's 470 pair, Simon Cooke and Peter Nicholas, also went through to the gold fleet in the men's championship after qualifying 13th.
