WAIS Sailors go Head to Head at Pacer Series

As winter descends on Perth, many of WA’s elite sailors are busy preparing for their European summer campaigns and class specific world championships.

With the opportunity to practise fleet racing often difficult domestically with fewer crews spread across multiple classes, WAIS Sailing coach Belinda Stowell devised a new initiative that pitted athletes from all disciplines and age groups together in a single class to replicate the big fleet exposure that they’ll experience overseas.

From those humble origins, the WAIS Pacer Racing Series was born, with Stowell claiming the event – held at Royal Freshwater Bay – a big success.

“The aim was to test strategy and tactics, along with big fleet starting skills, in preparation for the European and World competitions the sailors will experience as they all start to leave for warm sunny Europe,” Stowell said.

“It was a great opportunity, to put all the WAIS and state squad sailors into the same class of boat (pacer) in the form of a best of five race series.”

“There were no discards, so all races counted, meaning consistency was key,” Stowell added.

Australian Sailing Team member Matt Wearn demonstrated that he is no one class wonder – teaming with emerging talent Will Drew to take the series win.

Recent Carbine Club scholarship recipient Chris Charlwood partnered Jack Joyner for second place, whilst Nia Jerwood (1st) and Zoe Thomson (2nd) were the highest ranked females over the series, with their respective partners.