Wind shifts, delays, tricky chop and a massive brewing thunderstorm marked the first day of finals racing at the 49er/FX/Nacra 17 European Championships in Gdynia, Poland, pushing Australian crews to their limits.

Three races were held in the 49erFX category, with Natasha Bryant and Annie Wilmot maintaining their hold on a top 10 spot with 11, 9 and 15. Tess Lloyd and Jaime Ryan continued their improvement working together, scoring 21, 12 and a win, and Amelia Stabback and Ella Clark are 23^rd overall.

“Tash and Annie are still in the top 10 and the other two boats are slowly climbing up the results board,” FX coach Javier Torres said. “There are still six races to go so there are more opportunities to keep pushing and learning.”

The Nacra 17 fleet were treated to a 10 knot breeze due to the thunderstorm growing over the inland. Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin scored 4 and 18 in the two races and are 8^th, while Nathan Outteridge and Haylee Outteridge scored 15 and 5 to hold 6^th before the last race was cancelled.

“For the second race we had an 80 degree wind shift 300 metres from the finish when the storm clouds moved over the course,” Nacra coach Darren Bundock said.

“Jason and Lisa were effected by that and went from a comfortable third to 18^th.”

No racing was possible for the 49er fleet, with Will Phillips and Iain Jensen the best-placed Australians in 13^th.

PHOTOS: Drew Malcolm (event photographer)

Nacra 17 Event Site

49er/FX Event Site

Australian Sailing Team and Squad Results:

Nacra 17

Nathan Outteridge/Haylee Outteridge - 6, 3, 5, 6, 1, (22), 2, Finals - 15, 5 - 6th

Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin - 3, 7, (15), 5, 2, 1, 9, Finals - 4, 18 - 8th

Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland - 5, 2, 9, 7, 4, (13), 10,  Finals 20, 23 - 12th

Conor Nicholas/Hayley Clark - 10, 21, 7, 6, 10, 21, (24), Finals 24, 25  – 26th

49er

Will Phillips/Iain Jensen - 1, 1, 2, 10, 8, 1, 8, (BFD), UFD, 4 – 13th

David Gilmour/Joel Turner - 5, 15, (23), 5, 10, 12, 4, 7, 4, 17 – 19th

Lachy Gilmour/Ryan Donaldson - 6, 25, 3, 9, 11, 4, 10, (BFD), UFD, 11 – 36th

49erFX

Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot - 1, (12), 12, 5, 7, 9, 1, 4, Finals - 11, 9, 15 - 9th

Tess Lloyd/Jaime Ryan - 10, 15, 15, 11, (18), 5, 6, 1, Finals - 21, 12, 1 – 15th

Ella Clark/Amelia Stabback - 13, 13, 7, 15, 13, 12, 4, (18), Finals - 17, 3, 20 – 23rd

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