Wellington, New Zealand - 26 February 2011: At the half way point of the 2011 Musto Wellington Match Racing Cup racing is extremely close. With New Zealand's top up and coming talent sailing on Wellington harbour it was never going to be anything but tight.

In the women's regatta pre event favourites and New Zealand Sailing Team members Stephanie Hazard and Sam Osborne are starting to dominate the leader board. Hazard is on 10 wins and Osborne is on 8 wins after two and half round robins and together they have established a reasonable lead over Danielle Bowater on 6 wins and Anita Trudgen on 4 wins.

In the open fleet Wellington Spirit, Black Sheep Racing and Full Metal Jacket Racing are all tied on 6 wins each. With Wellington Spirit skippered by Josh Junior (World match race ranking 45, Laser Olympic class ranking 15), Black Sheep Racing skippered by Reuben Corbett (World match race ranking 12) and Black Sheep Racing skippered by William Tiller (World match race ranking 35) the racing is very close with penalties flying and plenty of lead changes in each match.

This event incorporates both the open and women's racing into one. The women are sailing in the Elliot 6m which is the Olympic women's match racing yachts whilst the men are competing in MRX's. For the men the teams are looking to prove themselves as New Zealand's best up and coming match racers and are also preparing for their campaigns in Europe throughout the year.

The winner of the event will receive the added bonus of a wild card entry to Match Race Germany in the 2011 World Match Racing Tour. The Women are vying for selection into the NZL Sailing Team's Olympic Squad. There are spots up for grabs and with the Olympics only two years away, the prospective Women sailors are all firing at this year's event.

Racing continutes until Sunday with Semi Finals and Finals planned.

Results, Pictures and Twitter feed at: http://www.rpnyc.org.nz//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1191&Itemid=488