2016 49er/FX Europeans - Australia's Olympic Gold medallists in action

by Lisa Ratcliff on 17 Apr 2016 2016 49er/ FX European Championships - Australia's Olympic Gold medallists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen have capped a solid week of racing by winning the Silver medal prior to Saturday’s medal race at the 49er European Championships. New Zealand’s Peter Burling and Blair Tuke wrapped up their fourth straight European Championship, securing the Gold medal, also before the medal race.

“We had a pretty good Europeans, we started consistently with most results in the top 10 and basically we were in top three from the first day and secured the silver before the medal race,” Outteridge said.

“We’ve got the other guys in check but there’s still a gap between us and Pete and Blair, and time is starting to wear thin (for the Rio Olympics). I wouldn’t say we are very happy with the end result; when you are off the pace you are leaking spots all the way around the race course, and that was highlighted here. We can definitely sail better and go faster, and we are going to need to if we want to win a gold medal.”

The silver medal Aussie pair was in better form this regatta; they started well and tried to lock up with Burling and Tuke during races.

Outteridge and Jensen claimed the 49er gold medal four years ago at the London Games and both are part of the Artemis America’s Cup team, Outteridge the skipper. Camps in Rio leading into the Olympics will provide vital time on the water but not the luxury of spending the Games build-up practising full time at the competition area, Guanabara Bay.

“We know where the level is and what we need to achieve. Any moment we get between now and the Olympics we are going to make the most of,” Outteridge added.

Sam and Will Phillips were happy with their sixth placing as they return to competition after Will broke his foot in January giving the team two months out.

“It’s a good result for us, we’re pretty happy with the way we are progressing as we haven’t done a lot of sailing this season so we’re just taking it easy to see how we go”, Will said.

Australians David Gilmour and Lewis Brake were 20th and Joel Turner and Tom Siganto 52nd.

49erFX

Tess Lloyd and Caitlin Elks finished the best placed 49erFX Australian women’s team in 14th and Olivia Price and Eliza Solly weren’t far behind, in 17th place.

“We came away from Palma really happy with our improvements and then kept improving throughout this week, which was really positive,” Elks said overnight. “Unfortunately we finished the regatta on a rough day and didn’t sail at our best, and it highlighted some of the areas we need to work on between now and Hyeres. All the events this year are important not only for Olympic selection but also personal development.”

Olivia Price, silver medallist in the women’s match racing class at the London Games, acknowledged their European scores were up and down. “We had a couple of good results in gold fleet but too many costly mistakes in the qualifying series meant we were out of the hunt. We did everything we could in the last few days but didn’t leave ourselves enough run-way to get some good racing in.

“Selection (for Rio) is still up for grabs in the FX and we’ll do everything we can to put down a result at Hyeres that we can be proud of,” Price added.

Australia’s three FX crews will be in France for the 2016 Sailing World Cup Hyeres, April 25 – May 1) along with most of the Australian Sailing Team.

The remaining Olympic Team selections for sailing will be announced by the Australian Olympic Committee in May.



Australian Sailing Team and Squad at 2016 49er and FX European Championships, Barcelona, Spain:

Women's Skiff – 49erFX

- Olivia Price (NSW) and Eliza Solly (VIS) – ASS
- Tess Lloyd (VIS) and Caitlin Elks (WAIS) – ASS
- Haylee Outteridge (NSW) and Nina Curtis (NSW) - ASS

Mens’ Skiff – 49er

- Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Iain Jensen (NSW) – AST
- David Gilmour (WAIS) and Lewis Brake (QAS) - ASS
- Joel Turner (QAS) and Tom Siganto (QAS) – ASS
- Will Phillips (VIC) and Sam Phillips (VIC) - ASS