Yachting: Sailor attacks Yachting NZ after non-selection

By DAVID LEGGAT

Yachting New Zealand has steered clear of a slanging match with disgruntled 470 sailor Melinda Henshaw.

Henshaw yesterday launched a stinging written attack on YNZ after its selectors opted not to nominate Henshaw and Jan Shearer for the Olympic Games.

Initially they had been nominated after winning the selection trial at Torbay in January, subject to proving their capability of a top 10 finish in Athens in August at the world championships in Spain last month.

The pair appealed to the Sports Disputes Tribunal, claiming they should not have to travel to Spain to prove themselves. That appeal was rejected. They finished 41st at the world championships, while fellow New Zealanders Shelley Hesson and Linda Dickson finished 15th and won the nomination, which has yet to be approved by the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

Henshaw lashed out at the documentation put up by YNZ for sailors to complete to enter the national trials, labelling it an "appalling document" and claiming retrospectively-applied conditions worked against them.

She claimed that "under the current regime ... we have seen a record low number of sailors competing in the trials and a record few classes (seven out of 11) qualified for Athens. Instead of handshakes and shared drinks many past friends have become bitter enemies".

She slammed YNZ as a "regime which to my knowledge does not include anyone who has skippered a boat at an Olympic Games".

Henshaw said the pair would not appeal against the selectors' decision as they "respect the selectors' right to make a decision within the terms of the regulations. We do not, and never will, accept the decision".

YNZ chief executive Simon Wickham said last night that he was not surprised by Henshaw's disappointment at the outcome of the selectors deliberations this week.

"However I am disappointed at the criticism of the people involved. We put together a panel with a lot of expertise in high-performance yachting, some of whom have represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games and the America's Cup and other international regattas."

Wickham said the process had withstood "probably the most rigorous test that any selection policy (through appeals and counter-appeals to the Disputes Tribunal and Court of Arbitration for Sport) has had to in New Zealand and we believe it's delivered us a very good team for Athens".

Shearer and Lesley Egnot won the silver medal in the 470 at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, while Henshaw and Jenny Egnot were 11th in the 2000 Games regatta.