Monique de Vries and Nia Jerwood make solid start to women’s 470 regatta

WAIS sailors Monique de Vries and Nia Jerwood have made a solid start to the women’s 470 regatta at the Tokyo Games.

The Perth pair continue a strong legacy in the boat class at the Olympic Games, with Tokyo the sixth consecutive Games, WA has had at least one representative at the Games including Olympic gold medallists Belinda Stowell, Tessa Parkinson and Elise Rechichi.

A strong opening race to finish seventh put the pair in a strong position, before backing up with 12th in race two. de Vries and Jerwood described their first day of competition as solid and sit ninth overall within touching distance of the top five.

“I don’t think we could have asked for better conditions for our first day,” de Vries said. “We tend to like the stronger winds, I think it’s a fairly well known fact.”

De Vries and Jerwood continued their campaign on Thursday, while Matt Wearn returns to the water for races seven and eight of the Laser regatta.