49ers Make History in Argentina on Path to Rio Olympics

49ers in full action in Buenos Aires Argentina World Championship Rio de la Plata

Two 49er riders from New Zealand made history in the 49ers World Championship Stop Buenos Aires Argentina after taking a third time consecutive victory. Riding the small jet-like speed sailboat International Teams competed tight for the podium and spots for Rio Olympics.

The 49ers International Class Association reported on November 23 on the “Final Count of the World Championships”. International media -picking up the news stated that “Gold Fleets were determined not only in the 49ers Men Division but as well in the Women's Division” which sailing the 49ers FX Class took to the conquering of the silver waters of the River de la Plata in Buenos Aires Argentina.

A total of 110 teams from 33 countries flocked to the bumpy but windy waters of the Silver River. All competed for the Win and the Titles. Three Olympic Qualification slots were at stake and were taken. 10 Teams have already qualified for their countries for the Rio Olympics.

49ers Final Result Table ended with First position for Peter Burling and Blair Tuke from New Zealand, Second for Australia's Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen and Third for Federico Alonso and Arturo Alonso Tellechea from Spain.

49ers FX Women Division Final Table Results saw First place taken by Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich from Italy, Second by Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze from Brazil and Third Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen from Denmark.

The International 49ers Class Association described the waters of Buenos Aires as a “beautiful venue”. Total of 6 fast days of sail raw racing took place.

Riders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke from New Zealand were responsible for writing history down and clear in the murky waters of Buenos Aires. Their win in Argentina adds to their lists becoming now the only the first Team in 49ers history to take three consecutive World Titles in the Olympic skiff class but also extended their unprecedented unbeaten run to 22 victories in a row.

“The kiwis should once again be the real story leaving Argentina, with an unprecedented 22nd Olympic class victories under their belts. This surely puts them into the top echelons of Olympic class dominance with the likes of Ainsley and Scheidt, who each had exceedingly long unbeaten streaks in the Finn and Laser respectively. It’s never been done quite like this in the 49er before, with three years of uninterrupted dominance,” 49ers organizers stated

After having accumulated massive point distance in previous Stops of the 49ers 2015 World Tour the Team from New Zealand had already secured the Gold. The real race in Argentina was for the Silver Medal. The race was tight and the fleet was packed. The wind picked up speed and 49ers flew above the beautiful waters. Team from Italy, UK, Germany, Australia and Spain put on an impressive show.

There are still major events coming in the next months. The International 49ers Organization assures that all riders have “good chances” in the final run up to “Rio” and that there is still time.

Coming up next for the surface breacher, air-borne, 49ers is 2016 World Championship Clearwater, the European Championship in Barcelona and the South American Championship which will be raced just three weeks before the Olympic Games start in Brazil. Slots for the Olympics can be taken in these events.

“We’re absolutely stoked to take another title,” Peter Burling told the international sailing press. “This one has been a really tough week and I think both Blair and myself are pretty tired now which shows how tough it’s been, but we are really stoked to take another title and I’m sure it will set in over the next couple of hours.”

“It’s really nice to win our third World Title, and all in a row,” adds Tuke. Tuke was named last week ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year adding even more prestige to the leading world sport sailor and Athlete.

“For us, the end goal is clear,” Burling said in a 49er class interview before the Buenos Aires Regatta. “The goal is to get a Gold Medal in Rio. We’re not worried about what’s going on in the interim. But, that being said we enjoy the pressure and the challenge of having to perform under it,” Burling told Sailing World.

Sailing World revealed that both Burling and Tuke “are balancing their Olympic training with their roles in Emirates Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup campaign”.

The team from Australia Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen do the same riding in the Artemis Racing Team.

Sailworld also highlighted the ride of Local stars from Argentina brothers Yago and Claus Lange dubbed by Red Bull as the “most famous Argentinian helmsman of all time”. The team finished in overall 7 position.

49ers Team continue to train, the coming events will be decisive but every athlete knows that every race is worth racing.

Ocean Life News in Brief

Ocean Level Increase Dropping Oceans Floor: International Press reported on December 5 on the findings of new research which assures that due to ocean level increase the ocean floor is sinking. The study published online in Geophysical Research Levels used mathematical equations to accurately measure the Ocean's floor impact driven by the increased of water volume weight. Using data from 1993 to 2014 researchers found that ocean level increase is causing the Ocean floor to drop globally by the milimeters. Ocean Dead Zones Up By Four: On January 8 New York Daily reported that Ocean Dead Zones have quadrupled.Researchers warned in a new study that oxygen-starved ocean dead zones, where animals and plants are struggling to survive, have increased fourfold and it may not be reversible. The new study was published in the Journal Science. The increase of Dead Zones was linked to climate change. La Niña´s Polar Wave Hitting Hard the US -Freezing Oceans: International Press reported on the Polar Wave hitting hard the US. The event is linked by experts to the influence of La Niña. “For the past couple of weeks, parts of North America have been chilling down to record temperatures, with massive snowfall and icy cold conditions putting life at a standstill for many,” media reported. The US East Coast has been particularly badly hit with the likes of Boston down to Philadelphia reaching bone-chilling lows of near 0°F , with icy winds making it feel closer to around -10°F to -20°F. Officially 18 were dead and 100 million affected. Government of Bali Declares a Garbage Emergency: On January 5 Ocean Conservancy reported on a New Waste Management Emergency in Bali. Massive amounts of ocean debri are affecting the island. The situation has reached its peak as the Government of Bali declared a “Garbage Emergency”. Clean up works have began. “Ivory Coast Village Swallowed by Ocean Increase,” Aljazeera Reports: On January 8 Al Jazeera reported that ocean increase levels are affecting infrastructure in the Ivory Coast. “Rising tides and more frequent, devastating storms are slowly destroying what is left of Lahou-Kpanda, the offshoot of what was once a major colonial town near the mouth of the Bandama River, the longest river in Ivory Coast,” Al Jazeera reported. Arctic Ocean Radioactive Levels on the Rise: IFL Science reported on January 3 on the findings of new report which assures that radioactive levels in the Arctic Ocean are on the rise. “Concentrations of radioactive radium-228 in the Arctic Ocean increased between 2007 and 2015,” the report reads. While levels have not yet reached a mark of concern the trend is worries experts. Lauren Kipp of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution addressed the issue. New World Wide Ocean Turtle Study Says 90% of Plastic Pollution Cases Result in Death: Earth Sky Org reported on January 7 that hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash in oceans and on beaches. A research published in the journal Endangered Species Research took on a World-Wide Survey covering the major oceans where turtles live. They discovered that 91 % of the entangled turtles were found dead. They also suffered serious wounds from entanglement, leading to maiming, amputation or choking. Double Whirlpools Discovered for First Time: December 4 Press reported that Double Eddies have been registered for the first time in History. Tangled up Double Eddies can travel great distances affecting ecology significantly. Eddies are a natural part of the ocean environment but double whirlpools had only been theorized by mathematicians.