2015 NZL Sailing Team Announced   25 Feb 2015

Yachting New Zealand has named 15 campaigns in the 2015 NZL Sailing Team.

All are chasing the ultimate goal of Olympic glory in 2016, but selection comes first and 2015 is crucial in terms of demonstrating form through results on the world stage.

Twelve campaigns named today were part of the 2014 NZL Sailing Team, while the other three (Sara Winther, Laser Radial; Michael Bullot, Laser; Jon-Paul Tobin, Men’s RS:X) are returning team members who have been included for 2015 after demonstrating their commitment to the Olympic goal with top results last year.

All will be competing in Auckland tomorrow with 2015 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, this country’s premier Olympic and Paralympic classes regatta on from 26 February to 1 March. Following that each will embark on their own pre-planned programme of international competition for 2015 – highlights will be the ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas, class World and European Championship Regattas, and for those that make the limited numbers team, the Rio Olympic Test Event in August.

2015 NZL Sailing Team

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke - 49er
Josh Porebski and Marcus Hansen – 49er
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – Women’s 470
Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470
Andy Maloney – Laser
Sam Meech – Laser
Thomas Saunders – Laser
Michael Bullot – Laser
Sara Winther – Laser Radial
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17
Jon-Paul Tobin – Men’s RS:X
Natalia Kosinska – Women’s RS:X
Andrew Murdoch – Finn
Josh Junior – Finn

Last year New Zealand was one of only three nations to secure national qualification for an Olympic berth in all ten sailing events to be contested at the Rio 2016 Games through their results at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championship in Santander, Spain.

“Having qualified in all ten classes so early is an enviable position to be in,” says Jez Fanstone, Yachting New Zealand High Performance Manager. “And now the NZL Sailing Team crews will be acutely aware that Olympic selectors will be keeping a keen eye on their performances at the major international regattas this year.”

Top results at pinnacle international regattas are required to be named in the NZL Sailing Team – which includes only New Zealand’s top level Olympic campaigners. Those included in the NZL Sailing Team are supported by Yachting New Zealand, made possible through High Performance Sport New Zealand and sponsor partnerships.

About the NZL Sailing Team

NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who have made the top 20% in their most recent (respective) class World Championships or pinnacle event and have shown consistency of performance over the year including other significant Championships.

NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.

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