Sarah Blanck - sailing her way to Athens

by Yachting Victoria on 6 Mar 2004 The only Victorian athlete selected as part of Australia’s Sailing Team for Athens is Sarah Blanck. She is a genuine prospect for an Olympic medal and is Australia’s most successful solo women’s dinghy sailor at age 26, having already won three World Championships.

Sarah’s most recent medal was Gold in 2002, winning the Olympic class Europe Dinghy World Championships. In 1995 she won the ISAF Youth World Championships, the only Australian sailor ever to have won both elite regattas. In 1997, Sarah also won the Laser Radial Women’s World Championships.

Starting sailing at age of 10 at Blairgowrie, at the age of 17, sailing the Laser Radial, Sarah was selected to represent Australia at the ISAF Youth World Championships in Bermuda in 1995 – and brought home the Gold medal.

After winning the Laser Radial Women's World championship in Morocco in 1997, Sarah changed to the Olympic class Europe Dinghy in her quest for Olympic selection to the Sydney 2000 Games.

Based on a count-back of results, she narrowly missed selection for the 2000 team, but after a two and half year break from sailing, Sarah jump-started her Olympic campaign to Athens by winning the Gold medal at the Europe Dinghy 2002 World Championships in Canada.

As a result of her National and International success over the years, Sarah has received many awards including Australian Sailor of the Year.

Sarah’s supporters have arranged a Greek Australia Day at Royal Brighton Yacht Club on Sunday March 14 featuring Greek and Australian food, bands, raffles, auctions and lucky prizes. At $20 entry per person including food, or $40 for a family entry, this is excellent value and a great family day out in support of Victoria’s only Olympic Sailing Team representative.

For more information about the Greek Australia Day, contact Royal Brighton Yacht Club on 03 9592 3092 or visit www.rbyc.org.au.