New Zealand Olympic Sailing Team Fan Guide
Contents 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 1300 (Scheduled race start) New Zealand 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 Women s Skiff (new to the Olympics in 2016) 49er 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 1984 Los Angeles Russell Coutts Rex Sellers & Chris Timms GOLD GOLD Finn Tornado Bruce Kendall BRONZE Board Men 1988 Seoul Bruce Kendall Rex Sellers & Chris Timms GOLD SILVER Board Men Tornado John Cutler BRONZE Finn Barbara Kendall GOLD Board Women 1992 Barcelona Leslie Egnot & Jan Shearer Rod Davis & Don Cowie SILVER SILVER 470 Women Star Craig Monk BRONZE Finn 1996 Atlanta Barbara Kendall SILVER Board Women 2000 Sydney Barbara Kendall Aaron McIntosh BRONZE BRONZE Board Women Board Men 2008 Qingdao Tom Ashley GOLD Board Men (RS:X) 2012 London Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie Peter Burling & Blair Tuke GOLD SILVER 470 Women 49er Men
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 49er Race 12 Josh Junior Gemma Jones & Jason Saunders (if within the top 10) Peter Burling & Blair Tuke 0400 Thurs 18 Aug 1300 Weds 17 Aug W470 MEDAL RACE M470 MEDAL RACE M470 Race 10 Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie Paul Snow-Hansen & Dan Willcox (if within the top 10) Paul Snow-Hansen & Dan Willcox 0400 Fri 19 Aug 1300 Thurs 18 Aug 49er MEDAL RACE 49erFX MEDAL RACE 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 Men s oneperson dinghy (heavy) Women s twoperson dinghy Men s twoperson dinghy Mixed Multihull Men s Skiff Women s Skiff Class Laser Finn Women s 470 Men s 470 Nacra 17 49er 49erFX Sailors Sam Meech Josh Junior Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie Paul Snow- Hansen & Dan Willcox Gemma Jones & Jason Saunders Peter Burling & Blair Tuke Alex Maloney & Molly Meech 4 August Arrival Media Opportunity (0900-1030) Venue near Marina da Gloria to be confirmed 5 August Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony 6-11 August Equipment Inspection for sailors 8 August 2 races (1300) 9 August 2 races (1310) 2 races (1300) 10 August 2 races (1300) 2 races (1300) 2 races (1310) 2 races (1300) 3 races (1300) 11 August Reserve day 2 races (1300) 2 races (1300) 2 races (1310) 3 races (1300) 12 August 2 races (1310) Reserve day 2 races (1310) 2 races (1300) Reserve day 3 races (1300) 3 races (1300) 13 August 2 races (1300) 2 races (1300) Reserve day Reserve day 3 races (1300) 3 races (1300) 3 races (1300) 14 August Reserve day 2 races (1300) 2 races (1300) 2 races (1310) 3 races (1300) Reserve day Reserve day 15 August Medal race Reserve day 2 races (1310) 2 races (1300) Reserve day 3 races (1300) 3 races (1300) (1400) 16 August Reserve day Medal race Reserve day Reserve day Medal race 3 races (1300) 3 races (1300) (1300) (1400) 17 August Reserve day Medal race Medal race Reserve day Reserve day Reserve day (1300) (1400) 18 August Reserve day Reserve day Medal Race (1300) Medal Race (1400) 19 August Reserve day Reserve day 21 August Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony
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 7 th 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 11 th 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 100 th 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 27, 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 4 th. 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 Caroline Brisebois Hamish Willcox Nathan Handley Jim Maloney Mark Howard John Cutler Peter Nicholas Fiona Mather Craig Panther Jack Lloyd Jodie Bakewell-White Harry Lynskey Palasis Cooney Nacra Coach and Team Leader Team Manager 49er Coach Women s 470 Coach 49er FX Coach Laser Coach Finn Coach Men s 470 Coach Physiotherapist Doctor Rules Advisor Press Attaché Chef Chef