WAIS Sailing Update

WAIS sailing athletes Chelsea Hall and Stacey Omay have finished sixth in the 470 Junior World Championships in Gydnia, Poland this week.

The result could have been higher after Hall and Omay started the regatta in good form to sit in the top three, but after a mini slump through the middle races, the WA duo needed a last race finish above Belarus to steal sixth place.

WAIS head sailing Coach and Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medal winner Belinda Stowell felt the girls let a good opportunity slip to improve on their international competition result from last year.

“They went into the medal race in seventh, and beat the Belarusians to finish sixth overall. This was disappointing for them, having finished fourth last year,” said Stowell.

Stowell has overseen the development of all WAIS sailors over the European summer, and she is impressed by the results being returned by the squad.

“I am happy with the sailors and they have all improved significantly from their racing in Europe,” said Stowell.

“The girls, at 18 years old are now confidently in the top 20 in Grade 1 regattas, and have shown they can win races.”

Stowell believes experience gained on this tour will pay dividends into the longer future and help shape Olympic progress.

“It’s a tough circuit (Europe) and the seasoned campaigners are the ones in the top three. It takes many hours of training and racing amongst these competitors to reach the elite level that many of our WAIS sailors aspire to,” said Stowell.

“The European circuit has given the seven sailors who travelled this year, new sets of goals towards reaching the Olympic team in 2012.”

Also in sailing, the 420 boys, Mat Jerwood and Patrick Vos are currently at the 420 World Championships in Greece, qualifying for the Gold fleet. They are currently towards the back of gold fleet, but with over 100 boats competing, they are performing well.