Bronze Medal for Elks at the Sail for Gold Regatta in the UK

WAIS athlete Caitlin Elks has claimed a bronze medal in the skiff class (49erFX) alongside new teammate Olivia Price at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth.

In the pairs’ first regatta together as a partnership, the results were promising, with the duo producing a solid week of racing to medal at the world cup event in the United Kingdom.

Strong wind conditions led to a shortened medal race program, but when competition did get underway, Price and Elks were highly impressive, winning both races, to jump into third place and suggest they will be one of the crews to keep watch of in the new Olympic class.

“We were delayed on shore for a while today, but finally got on the water and raced in about 18 knots,” said Price. “We had two double point medal races, with eight boats on the water and did as much as we could to move up the leader board, taking two first places in the short course racing to finish third overall.

“We worked well as a team today and have continued to strengthen our relationship throughout the regatta,” she said. “We’re still ticking boxes on each race day and have taken a lot out of this regatta. Next up is some more training here in Weymouth before we head to Kiel in Germany for the next regatta.”

Price and Elks were joined in the 49erFX medal race by fellow Australians Haylee Outteridge and Nina Curtis, who started the day in seventh position.

Outteridge and Curtis also had two good races, with a fourth in the opening medal race and a second in race two, moving themselves up to sixth overall.

The final result was a positive one for the pair in their first event together, overcoming missing four races in the middle of the regatta due to gear breakage.

– with Yachting Australia