Day 5 of the Princess Sofia Trophy was make or break time for Australian Sailing Team (AST) and Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) athletes competing in Palma, where Western Australians, Matt Wearn in the ILCA 7 and Elyse Ainsworth in the ILCA 6, delivered the goods to make their respective Medal Races.
In the day’s two races, Tokyo gold medallist Wearn scored a bullet in the last race of the day to stake his claim in the Medal race to be sailed Saturday local time.
“It was a pretty good day in the end,” the Perth athlete commented. “The first race felt like I was under control, but the breeze got a bit funky and I lost a couple of places. I was in the front end of the fleet anyway, so I chipped away to finish sixth.
“In the second race the breeze was more settled and I sailed well to win,” said Wearn who finished the day in third place overall.
“I’m pleased with how I’ve sailed, but that also adds to the frustration of gear failure on the first day that cost me so much. I will take a lot of positives with me to Hyeres (his next regatta in two weeks’ time) though, and then to the big one, the Worlds.”
As was forecast, conditions were similar to those of yesterday. Competitors enjoyed a 10-15 knot south-westerly with nice waves. “But it was a little lighter and shiftier, which mixed it up. Very nice sailing,” Wearn commented.
Elyse Ainsworth sailed to 11th and 12th places to make the cut-off for the Medal Race.
“Very exciting. My first Medal Race. I’m stoked,” Ainsworth said.
“It was a tricky day. I knew my biggest competitor would be myself, so I didn’t want to let my emotions get the better of me, I thought it best to go and enjoy the challenge and have fun. It was stressful fun though,” she said laughing.
“I’m in 10th position going into the Medal Race, so I’ve got nothing to lose. Tomorrow is all for the experience and I’m going out to do my best and enjoy it,” the Perth athlete ended.
The journey to the 49er Medal Race ended for NSW athletes Jim Colley and Shaun Connor, who were unable to replicate the results that lifted them to eighth place yesterday.
“It was a bit of a challenging day. We missed a few shifts and didn’t have the pace that we’d had before. We’ve learnt lots of lessons and that’s what we came here for. We’ll keep sailing to learn more before Hyeres,” Colley said.
Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin were back on the water in the Nacra 17 having missed most of the regatta in isolation with COVID. The Rio silver medallists will now head to the Paris 2024 Olympic venue in Marseilles for a training block ahead of Hyeres.
This was a first international Olympic classes regatta for 21-year-old Formula Kite athlete, Breiana Whitehead, who has finished her competition in 16th place overall.
“I’ve really enjoyed racing against all the girls again. We (Australians) haven’t been able to race overseas for the last couple of years because of COVID,” said the Townsville athlete whose 19-year-old brother, Scott, is also in Palma competing in the Men’s Formula Kite.
“I’ve had some good moments, but little mistakes have cost a lot. I haven’t sailed to my potential yet, which is exciting. I’m still working on the little things that the Europeans have already had the time to work on. I will continue the work in Hyeres,” she ended.
Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) and Australian Sailing Futures (ASF) results and overall placings:
470 Mixed Gold fleet – 10 races (one drop)
18th – Chris Charlwood and Amelia Catt (ASS) 15, 4, 8, 6, 19, 22, 23, 11, 8, (31) = 116 points
30th – Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas (ASS) 1, 5, 1, 17, 29, (UFD), 19, 26, DNC, DNC = 166
470 Mixed Silver fleet – 10 races (one drop)
57th – Sophie Jackson and Angus Higgins (ASF) (DNC), DNC, 17, DNC, 11, 26, 19, 20, 15, 20 = 196 points
ILCA 6 Gold fleet – 10 races (one drop)
10th – Elyse Ainsworth (ASS) 13, 12, 7, 16, 11, 4, 8, (18), 11, 12 = 94 points
13th – Zoe Thomson (ASS) 8, 8, 12, 4, 4, (31), 31, 6, 15, 14 = 102
14th – Casey Imeneo (ASS) 14, 19, 8, 1, 17, 9, (26), 9, 8, 18 = 103
22nd – Mara Stransky (AST) 5, 16, 12, 22, 29, 7, 24, 30, (32), 8 = 153
ILCA 7 Gold fleet – 10 races (one drop)
3rd – Matt Wearn (AST) (DNC), 26, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 12, 6, 1 = 55 points
14th – Luke Elliott (AST) 19, 2, 1, 6, 28, 16, 4, 18, (33), 25 = 119
15th – Finn Alexander (ASS) 3, 14, 6, 3, (47), 27, 7, 33, 8, 21 = 122
35th – Ethan McAullay (ASS) 3, 9, 18, 5, 27, 21, 25, 40, 40 (42) = 188
ILCA 7 Silver fleet – 10 races (one drop)
69th – Samuel King (ASF) 27, 31, 25, 27, 10, 10, 29, (36), 5, 22 = 186 points
73rd – Stefan Elliott-Shircore (ASF) 15, 20, 31, 20, 22, (43), 21, 32, 4, 33 = 198
ILCA 7 Bronze fleet – 10 races (one drop)
112th – Michael Compton (ASF) 36, 38, 33, (42), 3, 13, 18, 4, 11, 2 = 158 points
154th – Zac Littlewood (AST) (DNC), DNC, 41, 5, 4, DNC, DNC, , DNC, DNC = 386
iQFOiL Men Gold fleet – 19 races (four drops)
41st – Grae Morris (ASS) 10, 14, 14, 8, 20.50 (20.50), 14, (19), 15, BFD, (46), 29, 45, 36, 36, (46), 41, 43, 12 = 372.5 points
iQFOiL Men Silver fleet – 19 races (four drops)
60th – Will McMillan (ASF) 23, 9, (DNC), (DNF), DNC, DNC, 9, 21, 7, 3, 10, 5, 2, 5, 24, (RET), (DNC), DNC, DNC = 223.6 points
69th – Caelin Winchcombe (ASS) (DNF), 32, (38), 36, 35, 35, 36, 35, 9, 7, 12, 18, 19, (33), (25), 8, 20, 6, 20 = 328
81st – Jack Marquardt (ASF) (DNC), (DNF), 37, 37, 40.50, 40.50, 38, 38, 23, 23, 20, 33, 22, (DNC), (DNC), 21, 29, 35, 26 = 463
iQFOiL Women (74 entries) – 18 races (three drops)
38th – Natasha Bryant (ASF) 43, 48, 42, (50), 41, 41, (49), (52), 15, 23, 19, 23, 24, 42, 39, 21, 49, 27, 33 = 530 points
42nd – Samantha Costin (ASF) 48, (52), (52), 44, 46, 46, 47, 34, 27, 19, 27, 40, 38, 31, 15, (56), 36, 36, 36 = 570
49er Gold fleet – 12 races (one drop)
19th – Jim Colley and Shaun O’Connor (ASS) (DNC), 5, 3, 13, 3, 6, 17, 8, 11, 16, 24, 21 = 127 points
21st – Tom Needham and Joel Turner (ASS) 4, (DNC), 5, 9, 13, 19, 21, 9, 13, 23, 10, 14 = 140
49er Silver fleet – 12 races (one drop)
51st – Ryan Littlechild and Jack Hildebrand (ASF) 16, 17, 19, 22, 14, (DNC), 22, 18, 23, 23, 19, 5 = 208 points
49er Bronze fleet – 12 races (one drop)
52nd – Jack Ferguson and Max Paul (ASS) (DNC), DNF, 20, 20, 4, 10,6, 1, 2, 1, 4, 1 = 96 points
58th – Otto Henry and Miles Davey (ASF) (DNC), DNC, DNF, 16, 8, 5, 18, 6, DNS, 4, 5, 5 = 147
49erFX Silver fleet – 12 races (one drop)
32nd – Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine (ASS) 20, 8, 21, 13,14, 15, 1, 9, 9. 11. (24), 5 = 126 points
55th – Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot (ASS) DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, (DNC), DNC, 20, UFD, DNC, DNC = 325
Nacra 17 (38 entries) – 12 races (one drop)
30th – Emma Jones and Max Puttman (ASF) (33), 30, 29, (34), 28, 27, 23, 26, 23, 29, 27, 28 = 303 points
33rd – Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AST) (DNC), DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, 4, DNC, DNC, DNC, 11, 20, DNC = 347
*35th – Jake Liddell and Lucy Copeland (AST) (DNC), DNC, DNC, 12, 29, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC = 392
*Lisa Darmanin substituted for Lucy Copeland on Day 3
Formula Kite Men – Silver fleet – 16 races (three drops)
32nd – Scott Whitehead (ASS) (16), 10, 14, (DNC), 9, 9, 15, 3, 9, 7, 4, 5, 6, 5, 10, 7 = 98 points
46th – Alexander Landwehr (ASF) 14, 13, 13, 14, 14, 11, 19, (DNC), (DNC), 14, (DNC), DNC, 13, 7, 16, 15 = 189
48th – Zac Pullen (ASF) 17, 19, (DNF), 16, 17, 15, 17, (20),13, (22), 16, RDG, 17, 11, 17, 9 = 202.3
Formula Kite Women (38 entries) – 16 races (three drops)
16th – Breiana Whitehead 12, (25), (21), 19, 18, 16, 9, 21, 15, 9, 14, 16, 13, 15, (DNC), 14 = 191 points
Follow the regatta, including full results at:https://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/
By Di Pearson/Australian Sailing Team media
