Please select your home edition
Edition
CollinsonCo 728x90 TOP

Australian sailors at 2020 ILCA Laser Standard World Championship - Day 3

by Clare Ridgway / Australian Sailing 13 Feb 2020 22:45 NZDT 9-16 February 2020
Luke Elliot - 2020 ILCA Laser Standard World Championship, day 3 © Jon West Photography

Fresh breezes have challenged the Australian Sailing Team on a mentally and physically challenging day at the 2020 Laser Men's Standard World Championships at Sandringham Yacht Club.

Australia's selection for the Tokyo Olympics, Matt Wearn, has moved up two places to fourth after focusing on his tactical game.

"There were some pretty long shifts out there you had to stay on top of," Matt said before hopping in an ice bath to recover from the day. "I think I did a pretty good job in the first one playing the game and got things 99% right but I wasn't quick enough to get the German Philipp Buhl." Buhl is currently leading the regatta, ten points ahead of Wearn.

"In the second one I got the strategy all wrong and didn't go far enough left. I rounded the top at mid fleet and had to fight my way back to eleventh."

Luke Elliott is one point behind his teammate in fifth overall despite nursing a suspected pinched nerve in his shoulder. "It was another tough day on the water," said Luke.

Finn Alexander dropped a few spots to 16th overall after two double digit finishes.

"Both races I wasn't backing my decision making and was second guessing myself a lot with the strategic calls," said Finn. "The first race I didn't get the strategy right, especially on the down winds so I lost a lot there. The second race I didn't back myself in my starting position. It was just a day of grinding away and trying to salvage as much as I could."

It was another tough day for Rio Gold Medalist Tom Burton who sailed a drop today and is sitting in 27th overall.

"It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst. Hopefully I scraped into Gold Fleet and we'll see where can go from there. In the first race I had a good start and climbed to the top but I'm struggling downwind a little bit. The second race wasn't my best start and it was a grind, so the legs are pretty sore. I'm looking forward to some sleep tonight."

Teammate Mitchell Kennedy, 23rd overall, was also feeling the conditions at the end of the day.

"I've done a bit of training over the years so my body is pretty conditioned. I'm hoping by now the legs know what they have to do and the mind will go with it. It was going to be a physical and mental battle out there today."

Australian Sailing Team Coach Michael Blackburn was looking forward to the fleets splitting after the qualifying races.

"The fleets have been diluted and now we go into Gold Fleet tomorrow so the points will really start to add up. We are still working on a few things with the boys. There are some strategy elements we can improve on in the second half of the regatta and hopefully we can capitalise on some key areas and keep moving up the leaderboard."

For more information on the 2020 ILCA Laser Standard Men's World Championship and full results visit here

Day Three Results: (124 entries - three fleets of 40+, three days qualifying six races, then finals and medal race)

4th: Matt Wearn 6, 4, 2, 2, 2, (11) - 16pts
5th: Luke Elliott 3, 6, 2, 1, 10, 7 - 17pts
16th: Finn Alexander 2, 1, (15), 2, 12, 14 - 31pts
23rd: Mitchell Kennedy (13), 7, 9, 9, 8, 9 - 42pts
27th: Tom Burton 7, 13, 9, 7, 8, (15) - 44pts

Related Articles

BOISW - New Committee announced for 2026
New Committee working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week . A newly appointed committee is already working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week event while honouring the traditions that have made it so special to the sailing community. Posted on 26 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features. Posted on 12 Jun
PredictWind launches Anchor Alert App
The app delivers immediate, real-time alerts if their anchor drags, ensuring enhanced safety. Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced the launch of its new standalone Anchor Alert app. Posted on 12 Jun
Armstrong Foils Demo Days return for 2025
Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Armstrong Foils is proud to announce the return of Armstrong Demo Days for 2025. Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Posted on 4 Jun
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North. Posted on 30 May
VX One Class forms Int. Class Assoc.
Significant new chapter begins for VX One sailors with formation of an Int Class Assoc. A significant new chapter has just begun for VX One sailors worldwide with the formation of the VX One International Class Association Posted on 20 May
“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place on Saturday
“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next Saturday (24 May) at Auckland's Okahu Bay “Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next Saturday (24 May) at Auckland's Okahu Bay, has been inspired by the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill's stalled progress in Parliament after its second reading in December last year. Posted on 13 May
RS-Quest rally at Cheltenam Beach
Eight RS-Quests sailed to Cheltenham Beach, on Sunday for the first NZ Quest barbeque lunch. Eight RS-Quests sailed to Cheltenham Beach, alongside North Head at the entrance to the Inner Waitemata Harbour, on Sunday for a barbeque lunch. Posted on 5 May
Taipa Sailing Club hard hit by Cyclone
The Taipa Sailing Club is reeling after being hard hit by Cyclone Tam - launches Givealittle page When Cyclone Tam tore the roof off the Taipa Sailing Club just over a week ago, the immediate future of the small Northland yacht club suddenly looked uncertain.A Givealittle page has raised more than $6000 in the first five days. Posted on 28 Apr
Exotic caulerpa in Paradise Bay at Urupukapuka
A cruiser was surprised when he pulled up a substantial amount of exotic caulerpa A cruiser was surprised - and worried - when he pulled up a substantial amount of seaweed that looked like it could be exotic caulerpa in Paradise Bay at Urupukapuka. Posted on 16 Apr
U-DECK 2023 - No.2 728x90 BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOMBoatseekr_LeaderBoard_5 - BOTTOM