12.00pm
Tornado sailors Aaron McIntosh and crewmate Mark Kennedy have just missed out on qualifying New Zealand for a place in the Athens Olympics.
McIntosh -- who switched to the catamaran class after winning a boardsailing bronze medal at the Sydney Games four years ago -- and Kennedy finished just six points
from the last available spot for Athens.
The pair had gone into the final race of the world championships off the Spanish island of Majorca today ahead of Brazil, who also needed to qualify.
However, the conditions were not ideal for McIntosh and Kennedy, with a strong 20-knot breeze kicking in.
They ended the race 30th among the 62-strong fleet, leaving them 25th overall in the regatta, one place behind Brazilians Mauricio Santa Cruz and Henrique Pelicano.
Yachting New Zealand chief executive Simon Wickham said the result was a huge disappointment for McIntosh and Kennedy, as they had achieved excellent performances in two major lead-up regattas.
However, it was always going to be difficult for the pair, with Kennedy troubled with illness throughout the week.
"We really feel for the guys at present who have thrown so much at this," Wickham said.
"Yachting's Olympic qualification system is tough. Like the Games, it comes down to how you perform at one regatta, and sadly this time for the guys they have narrowly missed out."
The winners of the Tornado world title were Argentines Santiago Lange and Carlos Espinola.
Meanwhile, in the 49er world championships off Athens, New Zealanders Adam Beashel and Ed Smythe are fifth in the silver fleet and on track to qualify their country for the Olympics.
There was no competition today because of lack of wind, with the final day of racing scheduled for tomorrow.
- NZPA
