Currently in 3rd place overall is the team of Alesha Thorpe/Michelle Vinsen/Karen Lambert and with only one more day of racing to go (2 more races) they will be hoping to hold onto this podium position. This is a fantastic result so far for these young sailors with top ten results in all but 2 races.

Only 10 points back is the fellow kiwi crew of Sharon Ferris/Joanna White/Kylie Jamieson who after a shakey start have come back with a vengence in the last four races to jump up the leader board.

These two crews are using this regatta as a build up to their Selection trials and World Championships which will be held in Spain in May this year.

They are not the only New Zealanders vying for Olympic nomination. The battle in the Finn class between Dean Barker, Clifton Webb and Peter Fox continues, with Barker extending a small lead of 11 points over Webb with Fox another 5 points back. With one more day of racing to be sailed Dean Barker will be hoping to extend this lead a little further. The second selection regatta for the Finn class will be the European Championships to be held in France in May.

With only one race to go in the laser class Hamish Pepper lies in sixth place overall - a result he must be happy with, given the late decision he was forced into making and heading to Europe very early with his olympic nomination in doubt. With that no longer an issue for Pepper he has shown in this regatta he has the ability to finish at the front of the fleet. This will give him a good confidence boost as he continues his preparation for Athens.

Another kiwi to jump up the leader board is Europe sailor Sarah Macky. Currently in 5th place (in aKeelboat sailors perform in Spa.ems fleet of 126), Sarah will be a definite medal hopeful for New Zealand in Athens.

Source: Julie Worth - Yachting New Zealand