Yachting: Mistral sailors in close race for Games

Just three races remain and nothing separates the top three in the battle for the men's Mistral spot in New Zealand's Olympic trials.

After eight of 11 races Thomas Ashley leads with 13 points after picking up a first and a second in yesterday's two races off Torbay.

James Wells is in second spot with 15 points finishing yesterday with a fourth and a third while Jon Paul Tobin is third with 17 points.

Tobin had one of his more successful days, claiming a second in race seven and a first in race eight after securing the breeze in the first downwind leg.

For the boardsailors yesterday's races were their first in moderate to strong conditions.

"It was nice to get out there and not have to pump so much," Ashley said.

"I kind of was following James [Wells] around the course a bit and watching him a lot more than I was watching Jon Paul so Jon Paul got a bit of a jump on me in the second race but that's okay, I still have a couple of points on him."

To win the trials Ashley can afford to finish second behind Tobin in the last three races but must beat Wells.

Ashley said he always knew he was in for a close battle with Tobin and Wells.

"We have been fairly close for the last two years. Jon Paul has been going a lot longer than both of us so he kind of went in as the one to beat but James and I have had a good regatta so far.

"My upwind speed is really good. It is pretty much as fast as I have ever been upwind, which is good."

Ashley reckons he has his nerves under control.

"Nothing has changed, I still have got to go out there and do as well as I can and try and win races.

"I don't think it is too different from what I had to do in the first race."

The 470s managed just one race yesterday. Andrew Brown and Jamie Hunt claimed their fourth consecutive victory and have a handy two-point led over Stephen and Philip Keen, who finished third yesterday.

Simon Cooke and Alistair Gair finished second to maintain third place overall.

Strong winds prevented any racing in the Laser and Europe classes. The trials continue today, tomorrow and possibly Monday.

New Zealand have qualified in seven out of a possible 11 Olympic classes, however only boardsailor Barbara Kendall secured an individual nomination after finishing within the top five at last year's world championships.

The trials will help determine New Zealand's representative in the men's 470, women's 470, Europe, Laser and men's Mistral classes.

The Finn representative will be decided after a series of international regattas.

Points after seven of 11 races.

470 A. Brown/J. Hunt, Naval Point 11 S. Keen/P Keen, Naval Point 14. S. Cooke/A. Gair, Kohi/Murray's Bay 16 D. Scott/ D. Healy, Naval Point Club, Titahi Bay 36 S. Hesson/L Dickson, Mt Pleasant/Nelson 37 G. Woolley/M. Overington, Kohi/Murrays Bay 38 M. Henshaw/J. Shearer, Murrays Bay 44 M. Davies/ P. Nicholas, Murrays Bay/Kohi 45 J. Thompson/S. Wilkinson, Torbay/Kohi 54,

Men's Mistral T. Ashley, Devonport, 13 J. Wells, Bucklands Beach, 15 J. Tobin, Takapuna, 17 D. Robertson, Kohi, 24 M. McCormick, Auckland, 29 M. Litchwark, Auckland, 43 A. Cozzolino, Auckland, 45.