Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn are leading New Zealand's charge at the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships off Eckernförde, sitting 10th overall after finishes of fourth and seventh on a demanding opening day. The result builds on recent form, the pair having finished fourth at Kiel Week just a fortnight ago.
World champions Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush sit 22nd after a 16th and a third. The 21-year-olds arrive as defending European champions, having won the title in Greece last year, then added the world championship in France in May with a remarkable comeback after recovering from an early penalty in the medal race.
Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren are 35th, rebounding from a tough opener with a top-10 finish in race two. Auckland brothers Sean and Rowan Kensington are three places back in 38th, competing in their first European 49er campaign together as they build experience ahead of the Junior World Championships later this month.
Shifty offshore winds and gusts of up to 34 knots made for a stern test all round. "The conditions were top-end and a bit squally and built throughout the day," 19-year-old Sean said. "We were just aiming to keep it simple and get around the race track clean. We had a few swims but were mainly happy with our racing today."
Older brother Rowan, 21, kept expectations grounded. "It's our first trip in the 49er, so this week is all about learning and our processes. We go to the Junior World Championships in a couple of weeks, and that's when we'll try to put down a good result."
The strengthening breeze forced race officials to curtail the 49er programme after two races, while the Nacra 17 and 49erFX fleets completed all three scheduled races. Four 49er races are on the cards for tonight, NZ time.
In the 49erFX, Nicola and Rebecca Hume claimed second in the final race to climb to 27th overall after three races.
Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart sit 11th in the Nacra 17 after scores of eighth, 20th and sixth, a solid start to their first European Championship campaign together. The pair joined forces after the Paris Olympics, where Wilkinson claimed bronze alongside Erica Dawson.
Stewart was candid about what still needs work. "We're happy with the opening day. Our speed is lacking compared to the top group, and we got rolled off the start in the second race, but overall we're happy with the first day. We had a really good day in that upper breeze, which is the conditions we've been struggling in the most."
Wilkinson identified starts as the key to staying in contention. "We've got to race our pants off to get into the top group, but we nailed our starts in the first and the last races."
