The Australian Sailing Team has left the first official Olympic Test Event at Enoshima in Japan with encouraging results, headed by a gold medal in the Nacra 17 class and silver medals in the 470M and Laser.

Following the stirring victory by reigning Olympic silver medallists Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin in the Nacra on Saturday, Laser sailor Matt Wearn produced a fine medal race finale on Sunday to surge into 2nd overall, putting the cherry on top of an outstanding northern hemisphere campaign which included claiming the World Championship silver medal in Denmark last month and the Laser European Championship crown in May.

Australia’s world No.1 ranked 470 duo Mat Belcher and Will Ryan did not get to contest the double points medal race due to the fading breeze, leaving them in 2nd place and on the podium.

Elsewhere, Australians filled top 10 spots in the 49erFX through Natasha Bryant and Annie Wilmot, and in the Finn class where Jake Lilley came 9th.

Wearn said he felt pleased to have finished off the regatta strongly after a challenging week of sailing.

“I think I’m more excited about sailing a race rather well, it’s been a bit of a struggle this week. To finish off with a 2nd in the medal race to clinch 2nd overall - you can’t complain about that,” he said.

“Olympic Test Event on Olympic waters - I know it’s not exactly the right time of year - but it feels good to get a medal. I kind of proved to myself and everyone else that I’ve got what it takes come 2020.”

Ryan echoed Wearn’s appreciation for the experience of racing at the Olympic venue.

Ryan (L) and Belcher bounced back from their 5th at the recent World Championships. PHOTO: Sailing Energy/World Sailing

“I guess I’m a competitive person, so I always want to win,” Belcher’s crew said.

“But, in all honesty, we were pretty lucky to have quite unique conditions this week and we improved through the week - the ultimate goal is Tokyo 2020.

“It’s the end of the season, it’s a good result for us to cap this one off and it’s given us a good platform to go forwards.”

Ryan said the result would add to the motivation the pair felt after finishing 5th at the World Championships in Denmark.

“We’re half way through this Olympic campaign towards Tokyo and I think we’re in a good spot,” he said.

“We know what we want to do and what we want to improve upon. Ultimately that’s all you can ask for at this point.

“We’re feeling more at home here. We’ve been quite a few times. The people are lovely, the food’s interesting but we’re getting used to it, the weather’s quite a big mix between winter and summer, but that’s part of the package and we’re learning to enjoy it.”

FINAL RESULTS

470M:

Mat Belcher/Will Ryan - 3, (15), 5, 1, 11, 5, 5, 10 - 2nd

Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson - (RET), 5, 13, 13, 13, 28, 18, 29 - 21st

470W:

Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries - 7, 11, 9, 16, 13, 7, (20), 17 - 14th

Nacra 17:

Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin - 6, 5, 3, 5, 3, 2, (8), 1, 7 MR 2 - 1st

Nathan Outteridge/Haylee Outteridge - 8, 9, 6, 6, 4, 1, 1, 4, (14) MR 6 - 4th

49erFX:

Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot - 16, 4, (17), 11, 13, 6, 13 MR 10 - 9th

49er:

David Gilmour/Lachy Gilmour - 5, (25), 10, 12, 20, 15, 25, 24, 1 - 19th

Finn:

Jake Lilley - (18), 14, 6, 5, 1, 9, 10, 13, 15 - 9th

Laser Radial:

Elyse Ainsworth - 35, 36, 36, 21, 35, (38), 3 - 32nd

Zoe Thomson - 37, 31, 35, 43, 19, (50), 9 - 33rd

Laser:

Matt Wearn - 3, 12, 25, 4, 19, 5, 6, 19, (27) MR 4 - 2nd

Tom Burton - 19, 8, 24, (UFD), BFD, 12, 10, 34, 7 - 20th

EVENT SITE

FULL RESULTS

Follow the Australian Sailing Team

Web: www.australiansailingteam.com.au

Instagram: @aussailingteam

Facebook: @aussailingteam

Twitter: @aussailingteam

YouTube: AusSailingTeam

Follow Australian Sailing

Web: www.sailing.org.au

Instagram: @austsail

Facebook: @austsail

Twitter: @austsail