Medal Success for WA Sailors as World Champs Test Event Commences
WA sailors have returned medal winning performances across multiple classes as the international season gathers momentum.
David Gilmour and crew Joel Turner (NSW) earned a silver medal at the 49er European Championships in Germany, finishing just one point off gold, which was won by Great Britain.
At the 29er World Championships in the USA, WA sailors Annabelle Davies and Madison Woodward claimed a world championship win in the non-Olympic class that underpins the 49er discipline.
Davies and Woodward finished 18th overall in the mixed fleet but were the highest ranked female crew, taking gold medal honours.
Caitlin Elks and Hayley Clark finished 19th at the 49erFX European Championships, whilst Conor Nicholas and Pip Pietromonaco claimed victory at the European Champs in the Nacra 17 C-Boat Fleet.
The busy international sailing season has moved on to Denmark where the official Test event for the 2018 World Championships is currently being held. The series provides sailors with an opportunity to gain valuable racing experience ahead of the benchmark event in a year’s time.
The battle between Australia’s premier laser sailors shows no sign of slowing down, with West Australian Matt Wearn and Olympic champion Tom Burton both locked at the top of the leader board. At the end of day one, the pair are level on five points each, having swapped second and third place finishes in the day’s two races.
Rio Olympian Carrie Smith and her crewmate Jaime Ryan sit mid-fleet after two races, in sixth position from 12 contesting boats on 14 points overall. The pair recorded fifth and ninth place efforts on day one.
Lachy Gilmour (sailing with Ryan Donaldson) has stolen an early march on older brother David Gilmour in the 49er racing. Gilmour and Donaldson are eighth at the end of day one on 20 points, with Gilmour and Turner a further two spots adrift in 10th (25 points).
Fellow Aussies William and Sam Phillips enjoyed a perfect day, winning both races to lead on two points.
In the 49erFX class, Caitlin Elks and Hayley Clark are in seventh position at the close of day one (14 points) with Ella Clark (crewing for Amelia Stabback) sitting 10th on 16 points.
In the laser radial class, young gun WA sailor Elyse Ainsworth is in early contention for the medal round, currently ranked 12th overall on 25 points – well within striking distance of the top 10.