Sailing Event a “Kiwi Blackwash”

This year’s 420 World Championships have been described as a “Kiwi blackwash” after NZ sailors took out all podium positions in both the Open and Women’s events. Carl Evans and Peter Burling, Simon Cooke and Scott Illingworth, and Rowan Swanson and Bruce Kennedy came first, second and third respectively in the Open competition, while Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie, Shelley Hesson and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher, and Sarah Bilkey and Rosie Sargisson won gold, silver and bronze in the Women’s. Top sailors from 17 different countries competed in the event, which was held in NZ for the first time at Auckland’s Takapuna Boating Club.