WA Boys Make Solid Start as Light Winds Cause Havoc in Porto
WA sailors Luke Elliott and Matt Wearn have made a strong start to the European Laser Championships in Porto to hold top ten positions despite racing in light breezes.
Having both cut their teeth growing up accustomed to the strong, blustering winds of WA’s coastline, the duo instead required all of their tactical nous and know-how to manage the light conditions in Portugal on day one, which both men handled expertly.
Amongst a massive field of competitors, which has been separated into three fleets across qualifying, Elliott made the perfect start, winning the opening race, before carding a 10th place finish in race two, to end the day in seventh rank overall on 11 points.
Wearn shares the same score, but reached that tally through fourth place and seventh place finishes in the two completed races. He currently holds 10th rank overall but is well placed to challenge.
The conditions have played havoc with a number of formidable sailors’ chances, with current world champion Pavlos Contindes of Cyprus in 43rd overall, whilst New Zealander Sam Meech – who has been challenging strongly over the course of the European season to date, not much better placed in 31st overall.
Reigning Olympic champion Tom Burton fared better however, with the Australian recording two top 10 finishes to currently hold 15th position on 14 points.
With racing culminating in Saturday’s medal round, Elliott and Wearn will be firmly focused on keeping themselves at the front of the fleet to ensure they are in the equation for the top 20 medal round at the pointy end.
Wearn who is seeking selection for the Tokyo Test Event later in the year as the Olympic qualification process begins in earnest, said he was happy with his first day in Porto, even if a slightly better result escaped him in the second race.
“We completed two light and really shifty races. I am happy to finish the day with the results I got, but a little disappointed not to finish higher in the second race after being third at the first top mark,” Wearn said.
“There’s still a lot of racing to go though, and I’m looking forward to trying to improve throughout the event.”
Burton added additional context for how the light winds effect the fleet.
“I was forced to chip away in the teens for most of the day with some decent comebacks. In the lighter winds, everyone is much more similar in speed, so it’s difficult to be super consistent,” he said.
Meanwhile, WA’s athletes competing in the women’s Laser Radial European Championships in Porto have had a much tougher time over the opening day.
Elyse Ainsworth is best placed of the West Aussies in 27th (29 points), with Zoe Thomson 50th (50 points) and Jacinta Ainsworth 70th (73 points) well short of gold fleet.