News

Palma Day 2: Aussie World And National Champions Make Their Move

Published Wed 04 Apr 2018

470 world champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan, 49er national champions David Gilmour and Joel Turner, and ex-youth world champion Finn Alexander were Australia’s big movers on day two of the Palma regatta in Spain overnight, while Mitch Kennedy joined the big guns in the massive Laser fleet after a solid day’s racing.

Kennedy raced consistently to rocket up to 8th from 67th, Gilmour and Turner scored two bullets and a 5 to go from 24th after day one to 5th and 10 points off the lead in the 49er class and Alexander, who scored a bullet in the only race on the opening day, scored a 5, 1 and discarded 31 to maintain his position at the front of the 183-boat Laser fleet. Belcher and Ryan, who have not raced in a major regatta for six months, shot to the head of the 79-boat 470 fleet with a 3 and a 1.

"It was a bit lighter than we expected. We started the race in about 15 knots and then it died away quickly," Belcher said, adding it felt good to be back in competitive racing.

"We feel quite fresh, if a little bit rusty, and we are here in a big fleet to learn our lessons early on in the season rather than later when it becomes more critical.

"We didn’t really know what to expect here, it’s our chance to be back racing in the boat. We have done a little training but not much.

"I have been doing some 'real work' at home doing developing some residential buildings which is a bit of a change from this. Will has been racing the M32s. We will do Hyeres and then head back to Australia for a bit. I think we will miss the Europeans but we will see how we go."

Matt Wearn had a good day, grabbing a 2, 6 and discard to move up to 5th in the Laser class. Olympic champion Tom Burton slid back to 21st with a discard, 2 and 22. Finn sailor Jock Calvertscored a 5 in race three to jump into 30th spot.

470

Mat Belcher/Will Ryan - 2, (13), 3, 1 - 1st

Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson - 12, (30), 10, 25 - 46th

470W

Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries - 17, 8, 11, (19) - 31st

49er

David Gilmour/Joel Turner - 10, 4, (11), 1, 5, 1 - 5th

Lachy Gilmour/Ryan Donaldson - 2, 15, (17), 8, 7, 10 - 27th

Kurt Hansen/Harry Morton - 19, 3, 4, (22), 13, 18 - 36th

49erFX

Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot - (22), 10, 6, 7, 15, 16 - 23rd

Amelia Stabback/Ella Clark - 18, 14, 11, 20, 25, (UFD) - 42nd