Australian Sailing Team members, Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin, have made their move to the top of the leaderboard in the Nacra 17 competition on Day 3 of the 50^th Princess Sofia Trophy Iberostar in Palma, Spain.

Despite moving into the lead, the Rio Olympic silver medallists did not have an easy time of it, as Darmanin explained: “We were leading the first race when it got abandoned. Then we were leading the second race and hooked a fishing net with only a third of the race to go. We couldn’t foil, because we were caught up in it. It was devastating.”

However, the pair re-focused: “We have a five minute rule; we can get upset between races, and then we have to get over it. Move on within that time,” Darmanin stated.

The cousins went on to score fourth, third and 12^th places in the three races, the latter being used as their drop. They are five points clear of second and third placed John Grimson/Anna Burnet (GBR) and Ruggero Tita/Caterina Banti (ITA), who are tied on points.

“Everyone struggled a bit; it was tricky out there. The pressure was quite difficult to see, and it was on the edges. You had to be on the layline. If you got it wrong, you got it really wrong,” the NSW sailor said.

Darmanin also acknowledged, “We haven’t been happy with our light air speed, but we’ve done the work and we are going well. There is still so much to learn on these boats though. We are still learning, but trying to do well at the same time.

“It will be a busy year,” she commented. “The Italians are quick and clever, but in general, the whole fleet has risen. I don’t think we can count anyone out (heading towards the Tokyo Games). If you’re fast now, it doesn’t mean you will be fast in six months’ time. You have to keep at it, as everyone is getting better,” she ended.

The remainder of the Australian Sailing Team had mixed fortunes. 470 Men’s Olympic gold and silver medallist Mat Belcher, and his silver medallist crew Will Ryan, enjoyed a better day with a pair of seventh places to rocket up to 11^th overall. Team mates, Chris Charlwood and Josh Dawson, also moved up, from 22nd to 14th. The two teams still have some work to do.

“We are slowly getting things together. Today was first day of Gold fleet racing, so racing is closer and tighter. We’re pretty happy with where we’re at,” Belcher said after sailing in 5-7 knots. “These are the conditions we need to work on. We don’t always get those opportunities.”

Of his and Ryan’s ascent on the board, the Queensland sailor said, “We’re gaining places every day, so we are going in the right direction. It’s good to get to Europe and start to find our feet a bit.”

In the 470 Women’s, Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries dropped down to 22^nd overall after being Black Flagged in Race 5. They finished off with 17^th in Race 6, while Jake Lilley has moved up the Finn ladder from 38^th to 33^rd overall.

There has been a change up in the 49er standings where brothers David and Lachy Gilmour are the lead Australians in 15^th place. Thomas Needham and Joel Turner are next best in 24^th.

Kurt Hansen and Simon Hoffman started the day on top of the leaderboard, but are in 26^th place, having sailed to double digit places in all three races. Brothers Sam and Will Phillips have lifted up from 71^st to 66^th place, but are still struggling to find form after a long lay-off.

In the 49erFX, Tess Lloyd and Jaime Ryan have lifted up three places to 11^th overall, courtesy of sixth and 10^th places in Races 8 and 9. Amelia Stabback and Caitlin Elks are the biggest movers in the class; 7, 9, 5 results taking them from 26^th overall to 15^th, while Natasha Bryant and Annie Wilmot are 24^th overall.

Racing continues in Palma from 11am local time tomorrow and finishes on Saturday, 6 April, 2019. There are 1225 sailors from 67 nations competing and the Australian Sailing Team squad is representing in the 470 Men’s, 470 Women’s, 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 and Finn classes.

For full results and all information, see here: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/

Australian results after Day 3:

Overall placing/names/results

470 Men fleet – 6 races (one drop)

11^th - Mat Belcher/Will Ryan: (DSQ), 1, 22, 6, 7, 7 

14^th - Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson: 8, 4, (22), 16, 12, 11 

470 Women – 6 races (one drop)

22^nd  - Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries: 23, 15, 13, 28, (BFD), 17 

49erFX – 9 races (one drop)

11^th  - Tess Lloyd/Jaime Ryan: 3, 19, 7, 14, 16, 2, (23), 6, 10 

26^th  - Amelia Stabback/Caitlin Elks: 10, 13, (21), 12, 18, 7, 7, 9, 5 

24^th  - Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot: 1, (DSQ), 3, 19, 20, 10, 18, 24, 15

Nacra 17 - 9 races (one drop)

1^st  - Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin: 2, 5, 3, 9, 1, 7, 4, 3, (12) 

28^th - Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland: 26, 11, 12, 8, 11, 12, 27, (29), 16 

Finn – 6 races (one drop)

33^rd  - Jake Lilley: 14, 24, 20, 17, (38), 15 

49er – 6 races (one drop)

15^th  - David and Lachy Gilmour: (16), 2, 7, 4, 13, 9 

26^th  - Kurt Hansen/Simon Hoffman: 6, 1, 2, 18, 22, (25) 

24^th  - Tom Needham/Joel Turner: 10, 10, 1, (30), 25, 2 

64^th  - Sam and Will Phillips: 27, 26, 12, 13, (32), 13

Photo Credit: Beau Outteridge

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