Rio 2016 NZL Sailing Team Fan Guide

New Zealand Olympic Sailing Team
Fan Guide
Contents
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Time Zones
Event Information
New Zealand’s Olympic Sailing History
How to follow the NZL Sailing Team
Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Schedule
Athlete Profiles
a. Jo Aleh – Women’s 470 helm
b. Polly Powrie – Women’s 470 crew
c. Peter Burling – 49er helm
d. Blair Tuke – 49er crew
e. Alex Maloney – 49erFX helm
f. Molly Meech – 49erFX crew
g. Josh Junior - Finn
h. Sam Meech - Laser
i. Gemma Jones – Nacra 17 helm
j. Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 crew
k. Paul Snow-Hansen – Men’s 470 helm
l. Daniel Willcox – Men’s 470 crew
Coaching and Support Team
Time Zones
Rio de Janeiro
New Zealand
1300
(Scheduled race start)
0400
1500
0600
1800
0900
2100
Midday
midnight
1500
0300
1800
0600
2100
0900
midnight
midday
0300
Event Information
Marina da Gloria in Guanabara Bay is the venue for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. The
Bay is already well known as a world-class sailing venue: in 2009 it was a stopover venue for the
Volvo Ocean Race; whilst in 2007 in was the sailing venue for the Pan American Games.
The Olympic sailing regatta will take place from Monday 8 August to Wednesday 17 August 2016.
There are ten Olympic sailing events in Rio 2016; New Zealand will compete in seven of those;
Event
Boat
Sailors
Women’s double-handed dinghy
W470
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie
Men’s double-handed dinghy
M470
Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox
Men’s Skiff
49er
Women’s Skiff
(new to the Olympics in 2016)
49erFX
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech
Men’s lightweight single-handed dinghy
Laser
Sam Meech
Men’s heavyweight single-handed dinghy
Finn
Josh Junior
Mixed gender Multihull
Nacra 17
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders
Format
The regatta consists of an opening series and, provided a minimum of 6 races have been completed
in the opening series, a medal race. The top ten finishers in the opening series of each event advance
to the medal race.
Racing is scheduled to start at 1300 each day (first warning signal will be at 1300).
Two races per day are scheduled for the Laser, Finn and 470 classes with a target time of 50 minutes
for each race. In these events the medal race target time is 25 minutes.
Three races per day are scheduled for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra classes with a target time of 30
minutes for each race. In these events the medal race target time is 20 minutes.
No warning signal will be made after 1700 for an opening series race. No warning signal will be made
after 1630 for a medal race.
Scoring
Races are scored using a low point scoring system in which the boat with the lowest tally at the end
of the competition wins gold.
Each class concludes with a medal race but before that they race either 10 or 12 depending on the
class – [10 for Finn, 470 and Laser classes; 12 for Nacra 17, 49erFX and 49er classes]. The first-placed
boat in each race gets one point; the second two points and so on.
Sailors may exclude their worst score in those first 10 (12) races. The 10 boats with the lowest scores
progress to the medal race where points cannot be excluded and are worth double.
Courses The courses will be Windward/Leeward or Trapezoid with optional finishing legs.
Venue The racing area will be in and outside Guanabara Bay.
Our proud history - Olympic Medallists
Year
Medallists
Medal
Event
1956 Melbourne
Peter Mander & Jack Cropp
GOLD
Lightweight Sharpie
1964 Tokyo
Helmer Pedersen & Earle Wells
GOLD
Flying Dutchman
Russell Coutts
GOLD
Finn
Rex Sellers & Chris Timms
GOLD
Tornado
Bruce Kendall
BRONZE
Board Men
Bruce Kendall
GOLD
Board Men
Rex Sellers & Chris Timms
SILVER
Tornado
John Cutler
BRONZE
Finn
Barbara Kendall
GOLD
Board Women
Leslie Egnot & Jan Shearer
SILVER
470 Women
Rod Davis & Don Cowie
SILVER
Star
Craig Monk
BRONZE
Finn
Barbara Kendall
SILVER
Board Women
Barbara Kendall
BRONZE
Board Women
Aaron McIntosh
BRONZE
Board Men
Tom Ashley
GOLD
Board Men (RS:X)
Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie
GOLD
470 Women
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke
SILVER
49er Men
1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
2008 Qingdao
2012 London
How to follow the NZL Sailing Team in Rio
NZL Sailing Team Facebook - facebook.com/NZLSailingTeam
For build-up, morning and evening reports and action photos of the NZL Sailing Team
from Rio.
NZL Sailing Team Twitter - twitter.com/NZLSailingTeam
@NZLSailingTeam
For comprehensive race-day updates including race starts, results and standings from
Rio.
NZL Sailing Team Instagram - instagram.com/nzlsailingteam
For incredible action photos of the NZL Sailing Team from Rio.
Yachting New Zealand website - yachtingnz.org.nz
For build-up, morning and daily wrap-up reports.
Yachting New Zealand media releases – Sign up here:
http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/news/email-signup to receive daily wrap-up reports
straight to your inbox.
Hashtag: Use #nzlsailingteam to search social media for NZL Sailing Team content from
Rio.
SKY Live Coverage
SKY TV is the host broadcaster and the only network within New Zealand that can screen live
coverage of competition in Rio. That coverage is provided to them by Olympic Broadcasting Services
(OBS).
Unfortunately not all of the Rio 2016 sailing is being covered live by OBS, however SKY has confirmed
that if a New Zealand sailor is competing, and the live coverage is being provided – they will screen
it. SKY will also screen a daily sailing summary show provided to them by OBS, and other news and
highlights coverage – so watch the SKY TV Guide at Games time.
NZ date/time
(Starting at… )
Rio date/time
(Starting at… )
Live Race
Featuring
0400
Weds 10 Aug
1300
Tues 9 Aug
Finn Race 1
Josh Junior
0400
Thurs 11 Aug
1300
Weds 10 Aug
Nacra Race 1
Nacra Race 2
W470 Race 2
Gemma Jones & Jason Saunders
Gemma Jones & Jason Saunders
Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie
0400
Fri 12 Aug
1300
Thurs 11 Aug
M470 Race 4
Finn Race 5
Paul Snow-Hansen & Dan Willcox
Josh Junior
0400
Sat 13 Aug
1300
Fri 12 Aug
49er Race 1
49er Race 2
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke
0400
Sun 14 Aug
1300
Sat 13 Aug
Laser Race 9
49erFX Race 5
49erFX Race 6
Sam Meech
Alex Maloney & Molly Meech
Alex Maloney & Molly Meech
0400
Mon 15 Aug
1300
Sun 14 Aug
Nacra 17 Race 12
Gemma Jones & Jason Saunders
0400
Tues 16 Aug
1300
Mon 15 Aug
Laser MEDAL RACE
W470 Race 10
Sam Meech (if within the top 10)
Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie
0400
Weds 17 Aug
1300
Tues 16 Aug
Finn MEDAL RACE
Nacra 17 MEDAL RACE
Josh Junior
Gemma Jones & Jason Saunders
(if within the top 10)
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke
49er Race 12
0400
Thurs 18 Aug
1300
Weds 17 Aug
W470 MEDAL RACE
M470 MEDAL RACE
M470 Race 10
0400
Fri 19 Aug
1300
Thurs 18 Aug
49er MEDAL RACE
49erFX MEDAL RACE
Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie
Paul Snow-Hansen & Dan Willcox
(if within the top 10)
Paul Snow-Hansen & Dan Willcox
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke
Alex Maloney & Molly Meech
(if within the top 10)
NZL Sailing Team Rio 2016 Sailing Competition Schedule
Event
Men’s oneperson dinghy
Class
Sailors
Laser
Sam Meech
Men’s oneperson dinghy
(heavy)
Finn
Josh Junior
Women’s twoperson dinghy
Mixed Multihull
18 August
Men’s 470
Nacra 17
Paul SnowGemma Jones &
Hansen & Dan
Jason Saunders
Willcox
Arrival Media Opportunity (0900-1030) Venue near Marina da Gloria to be confirmed
Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony
Equipment Inspection for sailors
2 races (1300)
2 races (1310)
2 races (1300)
2 races (1300)
2 races (1300)
2 races (1310)
2 races (1300)
3 races (1300)
Reserve day
2 races (1300)
2 races (1300)
2 races (1310)
3 races (1300)
2 races (1310)
Reserve day
2 races (1310)
2 races (1300)
Reserve day
2 races (1300)
2 races (1300)
Reserve day
Reserve day
3 races (1300)
Reserve day
2 races (1300)
2 races (1300)
2 races (1310)
3 races (1300)
Medal race
Reserve day
2 races (1310)
2 races (1300)
Reserve day
(1400)
Reserve day
Medal race
Reserve day
Reserve day
Medal race
(1300)
(1400)
Reserve day
Medal race
Medal race
Reserve day
(1300)
(1400)
Reserve day
Reserve day
19 August
21 August
Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony
4 August
5 August
6-11 August
8 August
9 August
10 August
11 August
12 August
13 August
14 August
15 August
16 August
17 August
Women’s 470
Jo Aleh & Polly
Powrie
Men’s twoperson dinghy
Men’s Skiff
Women’s Skiff
49er
Peter Burling &
Blair Tuke
49erFX
Alex Maloney &
Molly Meech
3 races (1300)
3 races (1300)
Reserve day
3 races (1300)
3 races (1300)
3 races (1300)
Reserve day
3 races (1300)
3 races (1300)
3 races (1300)
Reserve day
Reserve day
Medal Race
(1300)
Reserve day
Medal Race
(1400)
Reserve day
Jo Aleh
Women's Two Person Dinghy – 470 Helm
Hometown: Auckland
Date of birth: May 15, 1986
Yacht Club: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Rio 2016 will be Jo Aleh’s third Olympic Games for New Zealand. In 2008 she sailed in the singlehanded Laser Radial class placing 7th overall, later moving to double-handed sailing and pairing with
Polly Powrie (in 2009) in the Women’s 470 discipline.
Together Jo and Polly, known as Team Jolly, won Olympic gold at London 2012 and head to Rio 2016
ready to take on the Rio venue as a new challenge, having prepared for the past three years to give
the very best performance they can in Brazil.
Together they have won five World Championship medals in the women’s 470 class including a silver
at the 2016 470 World Championships in February in Argentina.
Jo Aleh grew up in west Auckland convincing her non-sailing parents that she wanted to take up the
sport after watching Team New Zealand win the America’s Cup. She represents the Royal New
Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Aleh and Powrie are coached by Nathan Handley.
Polly Powrie
Women's Two Person Dinghy – 470 Crew
Hometown: Auckland
Date of birth: December 9, 1987
Yacht Club: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Rio 2016 will be Polly Powrie’s second Olympic Games, after she won gold for New Zealand in her
Olympic debut at the London Olympic Games in 2012 as crew with Jo Aleh in the women’s 470 class.
Together Jo and Polly, known as Team Jolly, head to Rio 2016 ready to take on the Rio venue as a
new challenge, having prepared for the past three years to give the very best performance they can
in Brazil.
Polly grew up in an Auckland sailing family and started her career in the sport at the local
Kohimarama Yacht Club progressing through the junior classes and then honing her skills in a range
of boats including the 420, Yngling and Laser Radial before pairing with Aleh to launch their
Women’s 470 campaign in 2009.
Together they have won five World Championship medals in the women’s 470 class including the
2013 World crown, and more recently a silver at the 2016 470 World Championships in February in
Argentina. She represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Aleh and Powrie are coached by Nathan Handley.
Peter Burling
Men's Skiff- 49er
Hometown: Tauranga
Date of birth: January 1, 1991
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
At the helm of New Zealand’s 49er skiff crew is Peter Burling who will this year sail in his third
Olympic Games.
In 2008 Peter became New Zealand’s youngest ever Olympic sailor when he finished 11th in Qingdao,
China in the Men’s 470 class at just 17 years of age.
Subsequently pairing with his current sailing partner Blair Tuke, and switching to the 49er skiff, Peter
won Olympic silver for New Zealand at London 2012. It was New Zealand’s 100th Olympic medal.
Since then Peter and Blair have amassed an incredible run of victories in the 49er class including four
consecutive World Championship titles in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The pair is coached by Hamish
Willcox
Peter, who hails from the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, combines Olympic campaigning with
his responsibilities as a key member of Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup campaign.
Peter and Blair are coached by Hamish Willcox.
Blair Tuke
Men's Skiff - 49er
Hometown: Kerikeri
Date of birth: July 25, 1989
Yacht Club: Kerikeri Cruising Club
Blair Tuke is one half of New Zealand’s highly successful 49er skiff sailing crew, which won an
Olympic silver medal for New Zealand at London 2012. It was New Zealand’s 100th Olympic medal.
With Peter Burling at the helm, Blair is crew on the two-handed skiff. Together the pair, coached by
Hamish Willcox, has amassed an incredible run of victories in the 49er class including four
consecutive World Championship titles in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
He combines Olympic campaigning with his responsibilities as a key member of Emirates Team New
Zealand America’s Cup campaign.
Blair is a proud Northland local who represents the Kerikeri Cruising Club and returns home to enjoy
recreational spear-fishing when time allows.
Peter and Blair are coached by Hamish Willcox.
Alexandra Maloney
Women's skiff - 49erFX
Hometown: Auckland
Date of birth: March 19, 1992
Yacht Club: Murrays Bay Sailing Club
Alexandra (Alex) Maloney will be at the helm of New Zealand’s 49erFX women’s skiff when the class
makes its Olympic debut in Rio 2016. It will also be the first Olympic Games for Alex, and her sailing
partner Molly Meech.
A representative of the Murrays Bay Sailing Club Alex has sailed all her life, growing up on the family
cruising boat, going on to prove herself as a talented competitive sailor with a 3rd overall at the
2007 Optimist World Championships with more medals in the youth class 420 and 29er boats.
When the 49erFX skiff was announced as an Olympic event in 2013 Alex and Molly quickly launched
their Olympic campaign and went on to win the inaugural 49erFX World Championship crown that
year.
They are supported by accomplished sailing coach Jim Maloney, Alex’s father.
Molly Meech
Women's skiff - 49erFX
Hometown: Auckland and Tauranga
Date of birth: March 31, 1993
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
Molly Meech is the tall, powerhouse on board New Zealand’s 49erFX women’s skiff crew to go to Rio
2016. It will be Molly’s (and sailing partner Alex’s) first Olympic Games.
Molly comes from a sailing family and spent much of her childhood on the family cruising yacht
going on to take up competitive sailing at the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club following in the
footsteps of her older brother Sam, who is an NZL Sailing Team Laser campaigner.
Sailing in the single-handed Laser Radial during her youth years Molly represented New Zealand at
the World Sailing Youth Championships twice. When the 49erFX skiff was announced as an Olympic
event in 2013 Alex and Molly quickly launched their Olympic campaign and went on to win the
inaugural 49erFX World Championship crown that year.
49erFX Coach, Jim Maloney supports Molly and Alex.
Josh Junior
Men's heavy-weight dinghy – Finn
Hometown: Wellington
Date of birth: December 22, 1989
Yacht Club: Worser Bay Boating Club
Securing the selection to compete in the heavy-weight men’s dinghy event marks Josh Junior’s
Olympic debut, with Rio 2016 set to be his first Games appearance.
Junior grew up in Wellington, took to sailing at the young age of just five years and proudly
represents the capital city’s Worser Bay Boating Club.
Campaigning in the Laser class during the London 2012 cycle Junior missed selection and went on to
switch to the Finn class in which he has excelled, producing some career topping performances in
2015 and 2016.
The 26-year-old took victory at the 2016 Princess Sofia Regatta in March interrupting the unbeaten
track record of Briton Giles Scott. A couple of 4ths - at the 2016 Finn European Champs (March) and
Sailing World Cup Regattas Hyeres (April) combined to impress the New Zealand selectors and earn
Junior the spot.
Junior is coached by John Cutler, Olympic bronze medallist in the Finn class at Seoul 1988
Sam Meech
Men's One Person Dinghy- Laser
Hometown: Auckland and Tauranga
Date of birth: April 4, 1991
Yacht Club: Murrays Bay Sailing Club & Tauranga Yacht &
Powerboat Club
For Sam Meech Rio 2016 will be his first Olympic Games appearance.
Recent highlights for Meech in his bid to secure the coveted Laser selection include a silver medal at
Sailing World Cup Hyeres in April and a bronze medal at Sailing World Cup Miami in January.
The 25 year-old hails from the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club and spent a good part of his
childhood cruising internationally on the family keelboat.
Sam’s younger sister Molly has also been named to represent New Zealand at Rio 2016 sailing in the
49erFX women’s skiff event together with Alexandra Maloney.
Mark Howard is coach to the NZL Sailing Team Laser squad and he will support Meech in the final
build-up and during the Olympic Games.
Gemma Jones
Mixed Multihull - Nacra 17
Hometown: Auckland
Date of birth: January 7, 1994
Yacht Club: Murrays Bay Sailing Club
Gemma Jones, from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, will sail at Rio 2016 with Jason Saunders in the
mixed multihull event (Nacra 17), which is one of two events never seen before at the Olympic
Games. This will be her first Olympic Games.
Jones and Saunders paired up for a Nacra 17 campaign after its inclusion in the Olympic Games was
announced back in 2013, and are one of the younger crews competing in this exciting class which
features fast and furious racing, and has attracted some experienced and accomplished international
sailors.
The young kiwis haven’t let that intimidate them however and in 2015 they achieved some
impressive results with a 4th place at the 2015 Nacra World Championships and a 5th place at the
2015 Olympic Test Event in Rio.
They are coached by Jez Fanstone.
Jason Saunders
Mixed multihull - Nacra 17
Hometown: Tauranga
Date of birth: November 22, 1990
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
Jason Saunders, from the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club, will sail at Rio 2016 in the mixed gender
multihull event (Nacra 17), which is one of two events never seen before at the Olympic Games.
This will be his second Olympic Games, having represented New Zealand at London 2012 in the
Men’s 470 class sailing with Paul Snow-Hansen. There they placed 5th overall.
Jones and Saunders paired up for a Nacra 17 campaign after its inclusion in the Olympic Games was
announced back in 2013, and are one of the younger crews competing in this exciting class which
features fast and furious racing, and has attracted some experienced and accomplished international
sailors.
The young kiwis haven’t let that intimidate them however and in 2015 they achieved some
impressive results with a 4th place at the 2015 Nacra World Championships and a 5th place at the
2015 Olympic Test Event in Rio.
They are coached by Jez Fanstone.
Paul Snow-Hansen
Men's Two Person Dinghy- 470
Hometown: North Shore, Auckland
Date of birth: September 3, 1990
Yacht Club: Wakatere Boating Club
Paul was the silver medallist at both the 2004 Optimist World Championships and the 2007 ISAF
Youth Worlds in the 29er Class. He represented New Zealand in the 470 class for London 2012
finishing fifth sailing with Jason Saunders.
For his Rio 2016 campaign Snow-Hansen has paired with long-time friend and competitor Daniel
Willcox.
Paul Snow-Hansen is at the helm of New Zealand’s Men’s 470 double-handed dinghy and will sail in
the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with Daniel Willcox.
This will be Snow-Hansen’s second Olympic Games having sailed at the London 2012 Olympic Games
in the same discipline. There, he sailed with Jason Saunders as crew, finishing 5th overall.
Snow-Hansen is from Auckland and grew up sailing at the Wakatere Boating Club at Narrowneck
Beach on the North Shore, making his mark when he placed 2nd at the 2004 Optimist World
Championships.
Snow-Hansen and Willcox achieved a career best performance at the 2016 Men’s 470 World
Championships held in Argentina in February with a silver medal.
Daniel Willcox
Men's Two Person Dinghy- 470
Hometown: North Shore, Auckland
Date of birth: August 6, 1990
Yacht Club: Murrays Bay Sailing Club
Daniel Willcox, from Auckland’s Murrays Bay Sailing Club, will make his Olympic debut at Rio 2016
sailing together with Paul Snow-Hansen in the Men’s 470 double-handed dinghy.
Willcox and Snow-Hansen are long-time friends, both representing New Zealand at junior level at the
2004 Optimist World Championships, where Willcox placed 4th. They paired up in the Men’s 470 in
2013 to embark on the Road to Rio.
Snow-Hansen and Willcox achieved a career best performance at the 2016 Men’s 470 World
Championships held in Argentina in February with a silver medal.
Willcox is from an accomplished sporting family; his father Hamish is a three-time Men’s 470 World
Champion, and his sister Anna represented New Zealand at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in
freeski slopestyle.
Coaching and Support Team
Jez Fanstone
Nacra Coach and Team Leader
Caroline Brisebois
Team Manager
Hamish Willcox
49er Coach
Nathan Handley
Women’s 470 Coach
Jim Maloney
49er FX Coach
Mark Howard
Laser Coach
John Cutler
Finn Coach
Peter Nicholas
Men’s 470 Coach
Fiona Mather
Physiotherapist
Craig Panther
Doctor
Jack Lloyd
Rules Advisor
Jodie Bakewell-White
Press Attaché
Harry Lynskey
Chef
Palasis Cooney
Chef