Yachting: NZ pair fifth at Perth sailing world champs

New Zealanders Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders were the best performing Kiwis at the Perth ISAF sailing world championships yesterday, finishing third in their second race of the day for an overall placing of fifth in the 470 class.

Of the five classes racing this week, New Zealand has boats in the top 10 in two classes, with Sara Winther ninth overall in the Laser class. The women's match racing crew of Stephanie Hazard, Susannah Pyatt and Jenna Hansen have also performed well, with seven wins and two losses.

Steffanie Williams had a good day in the women's RS:X class, finishing all three races in the top 10 and jumping to 19th overall.

In the same class, Miranda Powrie led the first race of the day for the first two legs and finished with a solid sixth, her best result of the regatta. She is lying 32nd overall.

Sailing was delayed due to an electrical storm yesterday, with plenty of stable breeze following. Each sailor competed in three races.

The Men's 470 and Finn class were scheduled to have a lay day tomorrow, however due to yesterday's cancellation, they will have one race each. The Women's RS:X and Radial are scheduled for three races tomorrow.

Tomorrow, the fleet racing classes will be split into gold or silver fleets based on their qualifying results.

New Zealand has made the gold fleet in every class racing this week.

New Zealand standings

470 Men

5th - Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders (1, 9, 17, 3, 8)

61st - Luke Stevenson and Sam Bullock (34, 25, 22, 30, 33)

64th - James Turner and Matthew Jones (37, 31, 30, 33, 21)

71st - Mike Snow-Hansen and Derek Snow (24, 35, 39, 39, 34)

74th - Gareth Moore and Ben Goodwin (35, 35, 37, 34, 41DNF)

Laser Radial

9th - Sara Winther (7, 6, 22, 8, 5)

32nd - Miranda Powrie (26, 33, 6, 15, 10)