Yachting: Macky wins bronze in Athens

10.30am

Sarah Macky was the New Zealand team's standout performer, winning a bronze medal at the Athens 2003 yachting regatta today.

In a close finish in the Europe class, Macky was tied on points but awarded third place after a tiebreak procedure was applied by officials.

Macky sailed a solid 11th race today despite being under the threat of exclusion if she received another yellow flag penalty for propulsion.

She finished fifth to seal a top-three spot.

Boardsailor Barbara Kendall finished in style with a win in the final race of the women's mistral class to finish sixth overall in a field of 21.

Jon-Paul Tobin also finished sixth in the men's mistral after a ninth placing today.

Overall it was difficult regatta, featuring changeable fickle conditions which brought some mixed results at the venue for next year's Olympics.

Today's NZ results:-

Europe: Sarah Macky, fifth; third overall.

Mistral women: Barbara Kendall, first; sixth overall.

Mistral men: Jon-Paul Tobin, ninth; sixth overall.

Tornado: Aaron McIntosh/Mark Kennedy, ninth; 11th overall.

49er: Mike Bassett/Ed Smyth, 21st; 11th overall.

Laser: Robbie McMillan, dnf; 20th overall.

Yngling: Alesha Thorpe/Karen Lambert/Michelle Vinsen, eighth overall.

Finn: Clifton Webb, 11th overall.

470 men: Simon Cooke/Peter Nicholas, 12th overall.

470 women: Shelly Hesson/Linda Dickson, 12th overall.

- NZPA