Took up the old!

February 1, 2019

      Took up the old!
      Peter Burling and Blair Tuke decided to fight for participation in the 2020 Olympics.

© YACHTING NZ

In Auckland (New Zealand), Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta kicked off in Olympic classes. Actually, it is not God knows what event, but this time all the sailing editions of the world write about the results of her first racing day. The reason is simple.

At the start of the competition in the 49er class again, after a long break, came Peter Berling and Blair Tuke, who are called the most titled yachtsmen in the world. Judge for yourself. Silver winners of the 2012 Games, winners of the 2016 Olympics. Four-time world champions in the same class. Triumphists of the America's Cup -2017 as part of the Emirates Team New Zealand. Participants Volvo Ocean Race-2017/18. And finally, the owners of the titles Rolex World Sailor of the Year, and the best yachtsmen of the world both recognized twice – in 2015 and 2017.

For a long time, questions about whether Burling and Tuke are planning to play again at 49er and whether they intend to take part in the 2020 Games in Tokyo remained open. But a couple of months ago it became known that they started training.

And then, finally, it was the time of the first start – on the Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta, at the start of which in the 49er class all the strongest New Zealand masters were to go. What will Burling and Tuke look like on their background – especially since in the previous Olympic cycle they did not lose a single regatta?

Part of the answer has already been received: look good. “Not butterflies, but we are trying to fly,” Tuke joked about this. At the end of the first day of the regatta, the eminent crew leads: parishes 1 – 2 – 1-4 and 8 points.
True, the young riders, apparently, are ready to give the 28-year-old Berling and the 29-year-old Tuke tough competition. Only one point behind the leaders are behind Isaac Machardi and William Mackenzie (2 – 4 – 2 – 1). At the same time, the strongest New Zealand crew of last year, Logan Dunning-Beck and Oscar Gann, were simply unlucky: they were in the lead in the third race of the day, but the mast broke.

In general, one thing is clear: there will be no easy life for Berling and Tuke. Well, they are not accustomed to this.

295 February 1, 2019 # 8760
                                                    
      
    

Chief Editor