2008 Australian Nationals & World Champs
Three teams from New Zealand went over to Melbourne to compete in sail Melbourne for the 29er Australian Nationals and the 29er World Championships. The crews were: Alex Maloney and Blair Tuke, Chelsea Whitburn and Gabrielle Cross, Sarah and Emma Berry.
The Austrailian nationals started in Saftey Beach, the first day the 29ers didn't even get off the shore because of the lack of wind. The qualifying rounds were decided after 3 races which had masive wind shifts which left Alex & Blair in the Gold fleet, Chelsea & Gabs and Sarah & Emma in Silver.
2008 National Champs - Taupo
After 5 more races, Alex and Blairs being 8.7.8.5.11.4.1 left them in 5th place with Alex getting the trophy for the top female skipper at the event! Chelsea & Gabes results were 14.10.8.11.2.17 left us in 8th postition and Sarah and Emma's results were 3.6.2.27.12.6 leaving them in 11th. The last day of the regetta saw a huge 40 degrees.
The Worlds got off to a slow start too with the invitation race being cancelled because it was too windy. The qualifying rounds went well for the kiwis with Alex and Blair not leaving the top 10 and even winning a race quailifying them into 6th position and being comfortabley in the gold fleet which is the top 25.
With some good results of 2nd,4th,5th,6th and some others Chelsea & Gabes quailifyed 35th leaving them in the silver fleet. Sarah & Emma had some good results of 7th,8th,11th leaving them to quailfy 58th and quailfying them in the bronze fleet.
3 more days of hard racing and the results were decided. Alex and Blair had won a race and ended up 9th in the gold fleet. Chelsea and Gabes ended up 23rd in the silver fleet (48th). Sarah & Emma ended up 15th in Bronze (66th).
There were 102 boats competing.
Videos
View the latest high performance 29er sailing in Argentina on the link below:29er On Board Video