WAIS Sailors Well Positioned at Delta Lloyd World Cup
WAIS sailor Matt Wearn is in second position in the men’s laser fleet at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik (the Netherlands) after two days of racing at the World Cup event.
The 19 year-old registered second and fifth place finishes in day two racing, off the back of a first and second place effort on the opening day of competition at an event that has attracted a fleet of over 150 boats.
Dutch sailor, Rutger van Schaardenburg currently leads the way, whilst fellow WAIS sailor Luke Elliot is in 18th place, bolstered by two top ten finishes.
Wearn faces a tense battle with Australian multiple world champion Tom Burton – who is not contesting Delta Lloyd – for the Australian spot at next year’s Rio Olympic Games, with ISAF regulations permitting countries only one entrant per nation.
In other Olympic class events featuring WAIS athletes, Caitlin Elks and her skipper Tess Lloyd (Vic) made a strong start to their 49er FX regatta with five top five finishes out of a fleet of 24 from their first six events. They currently sit fourth overall, after a capsize in the fifth round dropped them off the podium. The top three spots are currently filled by crews from the home nation.
Following a stint on the sidelines through illness, WAIS athlete Carrie Smith has returned to World Cup action in the Netherlands in the women’s 470 alongside crew Jaime Ryan with the pair currently ranked 11thin the 37 boat fleet. A fourth place finish in the fourth and most recent round, has catapulted the Australians into top ten calculations.
WAIS athlete David Gilmour and his crew Rhys Mara have found conditions more trying over the opening two days of the 49er class, with the duo currently occupying 20th place, with work to be done to push towards the front end of the leaderboard. A fourth place finish in race three, coupled by two other top ten efforts, show the Australian Sailing Team pair possess the race speed to compete.
In the Paralympic class, WAIS sailors Colin Harrison (skipper) and Russell Boaden (crew), along with crewman Jonathon Harris currently sit in second place in the men’s Sonar. The triumvirate won both races on day one, before slipping to second overall, after a third and fourth in day two racing amongst a fleet of ten.
The Delta Lloyd Regatta runs through to Saturday May 30. Further details can be can found at the event’s webpage: http://www.deltalloydregatta.org/