New Zealand Leads on Day 1 of 470 Spring Cup

Another great opener to an event for New Zealand's Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders as they launch their first day of racing at the 2011 470 Spring Cup in France with a 2,1 result to lead the fleet going into day 2. The pair put in a similarly impressive opener at the recently concluded Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma, Spain, but struggled to maintain form. We will see how their fortunes change or otherwise in France.

Tetsuya Matsunaga and Kimihiko Imamura from Japan who just finished fourth in Palma opened their challenge with a 1,3 score, and find themselves on equal points and equal second with their team mates Ryunosuke Harada and Yugo Yoshida who also posted a 1, 3. The fleet has been split into two for the qualification series and the Japanese teams were sailing in different fleets – hence the same results.

Seventy-two boats are racing at the 2011 470 Spring Cup, which see the fleets split into two. The format is for two days' of qualification, today and tomorrow, with a maximum of 5 races, followed by three days of finals with a maximum of 6 races. The event is unique in that all teams – men, women and mixed – sail against each other.

The top placed women's team is Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata who posted a 5,7 today to finish day 1 in seventh overall. Only just behind them are the second best placed women's team of Jo Aleh and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher who are still on the crest of a wave after their stunning victory in Palma.

Racing will get underway on Friday at 1400 hours local time.

ICARUS are providing daily video wraps and photos – CLICK HERE for the latest.

More Information:
Event Website
Results

Photos are on the Event Website and 470 Facebook page

Top Image: Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders © Icarus. Middle Image: Tetsuya Matsunaga and Kimihiko Imamura (JPN) at the Princess Sofia Trophy © Thom Touw