Wearn a Big Chance to Medal at Sailing World Champs
Matt Wearn remains a very strong podium prospect at the 2018 World Sailing Championships in Denmark with one fleet race and a double-points medal round to go.
Following a single completed race on Wednesday, Wearn shifted from first place to second in the overall standings after recording a 14th placed effort which now stands as his current discard.
He holds 32.0 net points overall and sits just 3.0 points off Cypriot legend Pavlos Contides on 29.0. New Zealander Sam Meech is third on 41.0. Contides is the reigning laser world champion and in Rio 2016, became the first Cypriot to win an Olympic medal (silver) in any sport.
Over the course of the nine races completed so far, Wearn has won two and placed third in another pair. However, his two most recent races have also coincided with his two highest point accruals of ninth place and 14th (currently discarded).
The scoreboard reflects a similar theme to last year’s Laser Worlds that saw Kontides reign ahead of Wearn in third place. On this occasion thus far, Australian and current Olympic champion Tom Burton – who was second at last year’s championships – is further down the order in fifth (58.0).
With the World Championship title likely to go to either Kontides or Wearn, both men are remaining focused on the sailing ahead.
“I’m feeling good. I had a good race and I’m leading,” Kontides said. “I am confident in tomorrow’s races, if we get any. I still don’t have a big discard, so I can keep my focus on the medal race and double points.”
Wearn said, “It’ll be nice to race tomorrow and get another opportunity to make some points up. Quite a lot of waiting today on the water. First race was abandoned, and the second race was an okay race for me.”
Fellow West Australian laser sailor Luke Elliott currently holds 11th place overall and will need to drop down one position in the final fleet race on Friday if he is to compete in the closing medal round.
Across the other classes:
Laser Radial –
Only one race was completed in the laser radial on Wednesday with the highest ranked West Aussie, Zoe Thomson discarding her 59.0 score to currently sit 36thoverall. Elyse Ainsworth sits 50th and Jacinta Ainsworth is 77th.
470 men –
Chris Charlwood and his crewmate Joshua Dawson completed their series with an outstanding sixth placed effort that bumped them up to 15th place overall. Before the final fleet race the duo were 22nd, with their aim to finish inside the top 20. Whilst they will miss the medal round, they will return full of confidence after a strong campaign from the young pair.
470 women –
Young West Aussies Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries closed their campaign ranked 25th. The final race 14th equalled their best result across the week and they will have gained invaluable experience racing against a senior world championship field.
49er –
Weather has wreaked havoc with the 49er schedule this week with Wednesday representing another day of abandoned racing. With no change after six completed races, David Gilmour and Joel Turner continue to hold 15th place, with Lachy Gilmour and Ryan Donaldson back in 30th.
49erFX –
Three races were possible in the 49erFX class with Amelia Stabback and WA’s Ella Clark shifting from 13th to 23rd. They carded 19th, (28th) and 21st from their three attempts.
Nacra 17 –
Weather also got the better of the Nacra 17 racing on Wednesday with no movement on the previous seven races. Conor Nicholas and Hayley Clark are 37th whilst Caitlin Elks, crewing for Steve Brewin are 49th.