Gilmour and Elks Build Towards World Champs Campaign
WA sailors David Gilmour and Caitlin Elks have used the opportunity to build preparation for this month’s 49er/FX World Championships by competing at the South American Championships in Buenos Aires.
The WAIS scholarship holders were both in action in Argentina, with Gilmour skippering crew Rhys Mara (VIS) as the pair combined for an encouraging fifth place finish in light winds.
Elks produced a solid week of racing in tandem wither skipper Tess Lloyd (VIS) as the duo finished their campaign in 18thposition.
Less than a week out from the 49er/FX World Championships starting in Beunos Aires, Gilmour and Mara will enter competition in positive mood, after recording the highest place finish of the four entrants from Australia.
The pair is now hoping to test themselves at the year’s peak event, and are hopeful for strong winds.
“We’re really happy how this Worlds pre-regatta went for us. We had limited training time before hand and finished fifth, which is really good leading into the Worlds,” said crew Rhys Mara.
“We’ve got to keep training though and have a lot to improve on and will hopefully see some different conditions too. We only had six to seven knots last week but hope to get out there when it’s a bit windier and choppier,” he continued.
Olympic gold medallists Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Iain Jensen (NSW), who have only just returned to 49er Sailing after another stint with their Artemis Americas Cup team, just missed out of the top-ten medal race to finish the regatta in eleventh.
With Victorian brothers Will and Sam Phillips finishing the event in 13th and Joel Turner (QLD) and Lewis Brake (QLD) in 19th, all four Australian Sailing crews finished in the top-20 of the 54-boat fleet, with all in the top-15 for most of the regatta.
“We’ve all achieved some really good results so hopefully we can convert that into the Worlds and all finish in that top bunch. All of us are very excited for the Worlds. It’s the pinnacle regatta for this year, Rhys Mara said.
“Dave and I sailed really well over the last five days and have been working together really closely with the rest of the squad and are looking forward to the Worlds next.”
In the women’s ranks, Tess Lloyd and Caitlin Elks contested strongly for an 18th place finish. The pair, has only been back on water together for some two months, following an injury enforced layoff for Lloyd, who injured her ankle at the Weymouth/Portland World Cup event in June.
The skipper said the South American Championships had given them plenty to work on and provided a confidence boost ahead of the World Championships.
“The South American Champs was our first proper regatta since Weymouth. We had a good start to the event but didn’t perform very well on the last day having a little bit of trouble with the tide and our starts. But it just highlights what we need to work on for the Worlds coming up and it was a really good lead-up regatta,” Lloyd said.
“We are actually feeling quite confident going into the Worlds now.”
-with YachtingAus