Sail Melbourne Results
WAIS sailors have returned some impressive results at the recent Sail Melbourne World Cup event, with medals to Matt Wearn and Caitlin Elks further bolstering a successful year for the Sailing Program.
Competing in the men’s laser, Wearn finished second behind the world’s top ranked competitor Tom Burton. Wearn produced a solid campaign of racing to claim two race wins and five podium finishes in total.
Despite Wearn’s form, Burton’s consistency starred with the New South Welshman claiming two races wins and not finishing further down the leaderboard than fifth in any race, having dropped a 12th place finish from his race tally.
Fellow WAIS athlete and former youth world champion Mark Spearman also contested the fleet, finishing 19th overall, with a 10thplace finish in the fifth race highlighting his schedule.
Elks, partnering helm Tess Lloyd finished third in the women’s 49er class, with the pair top ranked of the Australian crews competing. Elks and Lloyd indeed, led the regatta heading into the final day, but were overhauled by two Norwegian pairings. The Australian Sailing Team members will no doubt have taken great confidence from their campaign, which featured four race wins set-against a further four podium finishes.
Under ISAF rules, the girls have qualified for the 2015 Sailing World Cup Final – to be held in Abu Dhabi at the end of October. The duo earned qualification after finishing as the highest ranked home continent competitors, as stipulated through each round of the of the Sailing World Cup, as well as automatic qualification for the race winner, in each class.
David Gilmour rounded out an impressive 2014 competition year with a fourth place finish in the men’s 49er class alongside Victorian Rhys Mara. The pair earned four race wins, but found themselves hamstrung by a disqualification in race 10. The overall result however, won’t overrule what was otherwise a highly impressive series from the young duo.