WAIS Sailors in Action in Garda
A fifth place finish to WAIS athlete Matt Wearn has highlighted the competing Australian contingent’s results at the Garda Trentino Olympic Week in Italy.
Wearn had led the men’s laser fleet through two days of competition, only for a change to lighter winds in the second half of competition seeing him slip down the leader board.
Wearn said his result was reflective of the competitive nature of laser sailing.
“After rounding the top mark in first on the first lap, things went backwards pretty quickly. I went from being in a position to win a bronze medal to ending the race in ninth, meaning I slipped down to fifth overall. It was not the end I was hoping for to what was a solid week, but it proves again how tight the racing is in the Laser fleet,” he said.
The event is not a key competition for the Australian Sailing Team, with the decision to compete, in part, factored against traveling all the way back to Australia for a two week period, before needing to return Europe again.
“Garda is a less important regatta in the overall scheme of things for us and I’ve been winding down a bit after Hy√®res, which was the first event of the European season for us to peak for. But overall it’s been a good week to work on a few things that I was lacking in Hy√®res and to try out new gear.”
“Garda is just a good place to be. It’s got a good vibe and you can do lots of things, go riding, windsurfing, not just sailing. And that’s probably a big reason for us to come here. We spend such a long time in Europe, so it’s good to come to such a beautiful place and break it all up with different kind of trainings.”
And about the things ahead he added: “I will have a bit of time off now, do Medemblik and ramp it up for Weymouth which should be a good lead-in to our World Champs in July.
WAIS athlete David Gilmour and his crew Rhys Mara secured a 10th place finish in the men’s 49er class after forcing their way into the medal round, following a slow start to the competition week.
-with YachtingAus