Youth World Championship Title for WAIS Sailors

Western Australian Institute of Sport sailors Carrie Smith and Ella Clark have won a Youth World Championship title at the ISAF Championships in Cyprus in the girls 420 class.

Smith and Clark had been prepared for a last day fight for the gold but after their Italian opponents received a non-excludable maximum points score from race 10 the Australians had the job done and could enjoy the final day on the water.

“We’re pretty excited,” said Smith. “It’s been long time in the making and this regatta has just been perfect and we’ve really enjoyed it.”

Smith and Clark won gold at their third and final ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship with the pair standing on the top step of the podium after winning silver last year.

“It’s been a really good regatta for us,” said Clark. “This was our third and final shot at this regatta and to come out as World Champions, especially with a race to spare, we’re stoked.”

The Australians finished fourth in the final race on Friday, giving them the gold medal by 24 points. As they came back in to shore they were greeted by their team mates who carried the pair, and their 420, onto the beach.

“We saw it with Mark Spearman in the Radial last year and didn’t think they could do it with a 420 with us on it but it was a solid effort from the guys and girls, it was awesome and a great feeling.”

The win was a most impressive result for the pair, as they almost didn’t make it to Cyprus after Smith was struck down by illness in recent weeks. It was only at the last minute that the West Australian was cleared to fly out with the team; she and Clark put the setback behind them to go on and win gold.

WAIS athlete Mark Spearman finished seventh in the boys laser radial, with the defending champion recording a second place finish in the final race of the regatta.

Fellow WAIS athletes Lachlan Gilmour and Thomas Blaauw were 29thin the last 420 boys’ race, finishing the regatta in the same position.

-YachtingAustralia