Sail Melbourne run from Royal Brighton YC 14-18 January saw a talented field of ILCA 7s (26), ILCA 6s (42) and ILCA 4s (9) competing. Conditions were were described as at times character building.
In the ILCA 6s the women dominated filling the first 9 places. Hungary’s Mari Erdi had four first places and won the series without needing to sail the last race. WA sailor Zoe Thompson had a great series scoring two wins including the last race in tough conditions to take second with Maud Jaynet (SUI) third.
Australian Olympian Mara Stransky finished 4th. Emma Plasschaert (BEL) who won the Oceania & Australian event had a U and a Black Flag in the series with only a single drop so was relegated to 8th place.
In the ILCA 7s the British Sailing Team’s Michael Beckett and Elliott Hanson finished one and two in front of Swifto Elliott from WA. Australian Olympian Matt Wearn who won the close fought Oceania & Australian Championships two weeks earlier had a consistent start and was in second place after four races but then decided to withdraw. Matt wanted to recover a wrist injury prior to the upcoming European season in which he and the other top Australian ILCA 7 sailors will be competing.
In the ILCA 4s Riley Cantwell (SSCBC Vic) had six bullets and was an easy winner from Joshua King (Witsunday SC, Qld) and Charlie Byford (RPAYC/DBSC, NSW).
The full results are Here.