Yachting: Macky leads way for NZ

12.30pm

Europe sailor Sarah Macky had three midfield finishes but ended as New Zealand's best-placed competitor on day seven of the Athens 2003 yachting regatta today.

Macky finished 13th, 11th and 22nd in the day's three races in flukey 4-10 knot breezes to drop from first to fourth overall in a field of 27 after nine races.

The day's best New Zealand results came from 49er sailors Mike Bassett and Ed Smyth who finished fifth in all three races.

It was a notable performance from a crew sailing in their first regatta together against world class opposition, and left them 14th of 22.

Reigning 470 world champions Simon Cooke and Peter Nicholas found their form with a solid second place in race 10 to end the day 15th out of 30.

Boardsailors Jon-Paul Tobin and Barbara Kendall were both in the top-10 of the Mistral. Tobin had seventh and eighth placings today to be sixth overall while Kendall was seventh and 22nd to be placed ninth overall.

- NZPA