WAIS Sailing Update

The Easter Regatta in Mandurah was the last of the big State regattas for many of the classes and the 420’s and lasers were well contested.

The 420’s were won by Mat Jerwood and Patrick Vos, ahead of David Gilmour and James Omay. The 470’s had four boats racing, and the new team of Tristan Brown and Tim Lynch sailed well to beat Mat Higgins and Tim Rechichi. It was great to see the improvements made by the new team of Luke and Jack Morrison throughout the regatta.

In the lasers, Ryan Hannan won with his improvements on the second and third days, with a little more wind giving him the chance to display his speed advantage.

The regatta was a success with great attendance, and it continues to grow in stature as an event on the WA sailing calendar.

The top youth sailors were invited to a Youth Training camp in Queensland the following week, and seven WAIS athletes travelled across to train in the warm waters of Brisbane.

David Gilmour and James Omay will travel to the Youth Worlds in July, and benefitted from racing with the best 420 sailors in the country. In WA we have a great situation, as Mat Jerwood and Patrick Vos are a really strong combination and with the two teams training together in Perth, we stand to haveallfour become successful youth sailors in the class.

Also in Brisbane, was Mark Whittington, who gained experience in the Laser Radial.

The Pro Choice Pacer Racing series will again be held throughout May, on Saturday mornings, and Luke Parkinson is the current series leader. The racing will be held from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

Belinda Stowell