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4 January 2007, 11:03 am

Kiwis Continue to Dominate

420 World Championship 2007

Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealand continues to dominate at the 420 World Championships 2007 being sailed off Takapuna Boating Club in Auckland. Carl EVANS and Peter BURLING (NZL) are the top qualifiers at the conclusion of the open division qualifying series, whilst Simon COOKE and Scott ILLINGWORTH (NZL) qualify in second with New Zealand holding seven of the top ten spots.

Overall results after today's racing for the open division has determined the gold and silver fleets for the finals series, which commences when racing resumes on Saturday. The top half of the fleet becomes the gold fleet and will sail together from Saturday starting the finals series with their qualification placing counting as one race on the leaderboard. The second half becomes the silver fleet.

Jo ALEH and Olivia POWRIE (NZL) have today established a ten point lead in the women's division. Two third places for ALEH and POWRIE today bring their point score total to nine points and the Auckland pair has not yet finished outside the top three.

New Zealand also holds second place in the women's division with Sarah BILKEY and Rosie SARGISSON having another solid day on the water. They are ten points behind the leaders on 19 points two days into the six day regatta. Eugenia DE GIACOMO and Lisa LARDANI of Italy are in third place on 39 points.

Race one got underway on schedule in a northerly breeze of 7-10 knots in great contrast to yesterday's blustery south westerlies. However by the end of the first race, the wind turned and a south westerly developed and increased during the afternoon and reaching 15 knots at times.

Racing resumes on Saturday after a lay day tomorrow.