New Zealand’s two skiff (49er) teams had contrasting fortunes when the Olympic sailing got under way in Marseille.
The men – Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie – finished the day in first place after three races. They won the first race, then placed 3rd and 8th. With worst performance discarded they are on 4 points, and lead from Ireland and Uruguay.
At the opposite end of the scale, the seasoned Jo Aleh and Molly Meech, Olympic gold and silver medallists, had a nightmare day and finished their three races 15th, 17th and 20th. They trail the field in the regatta at this point.
McKenzie said he and McHardie were very happy with how the day went. “It was extremely tricky out there – the wind from the left, then the right, then dying down. We were happy to get out of it like we did.”
He said there were a few nerves at the start of the day but they disappeared once the racing began. The New Zealanders were ruing a poor start in their third race, which left them playing catch-up.