Michael Bassett and Ed Smyth starred for the New Zealand team at the Athens 2003 yachting regatta today, shooting up to sixth in the 49er class.
In a useful 10-14 knot breeze, the pair won the first race of the day and added sixth and third placings to jump eight placesfrom their overnight 14th with one race remaining tomorrow.
It is the pair's first regatta as a combination.
T he leading New Zealand contender was again Sarah Macky in the Europe class, who sailed an intelligent race in tricky conditions late in the day to finish seventh and has climb back to third overall.
The men's and women's 470 crews both finished 12th after good final races, Shelley Hesson and Linda Dickson finishing third and Simon Cooke and Peter Nicholas fourth.
Other crews to finish today were Alesha Thorpe, Karen Lambert and Michelle Vinsen in the Yngling, who placed eighth overall, and Clifton Webb in the Finn who finished 11th.
Boardsailors Jon-Paul Tobin and Barbara Kendall went out late in the day but did not get to start a race.
Tobin was fifth after nine races while Kendall was ninth.
Results:-
470 men: Simon Cooke and Peter Nicholas. fourth; 12th overall.
470 women: Shelly Hesson and Linda Dickson. third; 12th overall.
