Australian Team at World Cup Series Hyères Overall: Sailors battle to the end to secure medals

Mathew Belcher (M), William Ryan, Paul Snow-Hansen (M), Daniel Wilcox, Anton Dahlberg (M) and Fredrik Bergström - 2018 World Cup Series Hyères Day 6 © Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy

The Australian Sailing Team will leave the World Cup Series event in Hyeres, France, with a silver medal and a bronze medal after Mat Belcher and Will Ryan ensured second place in the 470 and Tom Burton fell just short of pinching second in the Laser class.

The Team also achieved two fourth placings, through Finn sailor Jake Lilley, who scored 8 in the Medal Race on Sunday, and 49er pair David Gilmour and Joel Turner, who sailed a BFD in their decisive contest on Saturday which knocked them off a likely podium finish.

Belcher and Ryan, ranked No.1 in the world and Rio silver medallists, delivered a near-perfect win in their Medal Race, but a slow start to the regatta prevented any chance of defending the crown they won at Hyeres in 2017. Swedes Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergstrom sealed the 470 title.

Tom Burton (M), Jean Baptiste Bernaz (M) and Sam Meech (M) - 2018 World Cup Series Hyères Day 6 - photo © Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy

Like Belcher and Ryan, Burton scored three bullets during the week, but paid for a couple of high scores along the way. Burton was within reach of New Zealand's Sam Meech heading into the Medal Race, but his score of 6 left him eight points away from second place.

Matt Wearn's 12 in the Medal Race saw him finish ninth. Along with his teammates, Wearn started slowly but improved as the regatta progressed. The Laser Team now heads into camp before competing in the Laser Euros at La Rochelle, on France's Atlantic Coast, which starts on May 7.

Aussies Results:

Laser:

Tom Burton - 3, 26, (41), 15,1, 1, 12, 31, 13, 1 – 3rd
Matt Wearn - 15, 25, 10, (49), 18, 39, 7, 1, 15, 6, 12 – 9th
Finn Alexander - 20, 45, 4, 20, 16, 35, 13, (56), 29, 2 – 13th
Luke Elliott - 33, 29, 55, 50, 34, 3, 41, 36, 27, (BFD) – 39th
Mitch Kennedy – (DNF), 6, 35, 63, 63, 12, 3, 11, 48, DSQ – 40th
Dan Self - 58, 44, 60, 56, 23, 33, (65), 52, 50, 52 - 59th

Laser radial:

Paige Caldecoat - 33, 60, 30, (62), 43, 49, 54, 58, 48, 41 – 59th

49er:

David Gilmour/Joel Turner - 2, 2, (27), 1, 13, 2, 20, BFD – 4th
Lachy Gilmour/Ryan Donaldson - 13, 24, (26), 26, 20, 26, 16 - 27th
Kurt Hansen/Harry Morton - (36), 31, 23, 30, 12, 25, 29 - 35th

49erFX:

Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot - 7, 18, 20, 1, 11, 11, (22), 17, 2, 9, 19, 16 - 10th
Amelia Stabback/Ella Clark - 2, 8, 17, 10, 20, 10, 25, 22, 12, (32), 25 – 14th

470W:

Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries - 12, (30), 20, 28, 23, 20, 7, 25, 6 – 23rd

470:

Mat Belcher/Will Ryan – 8, 5, 6, 10, (24), 1, 1, 15, 1, 2 – 2nd
Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson - 17, 23, 15, (35), 20, 25, 28, 31, 33 – 31st

Finn:

Jake Lilley - 3, 7, 3, 19, (20), 8, 2, 13, 8 - 4th
Oliver Tweddell – 35, 24, 8, 23, 26, 16, 36, (37) - 28th
Jock Calvert - 12, 17, 28, 37, 36, (39), 31, 32 – 32nd
Lewis Brake - 22, 38, 33, 32, (UFD), 34, 28, 34 – 36th

Nacra 17:

Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin – 16, (BFD), 12, 13, 2, 14, 21, 4, UFD, 2, 4, 10 – 10th

Full results here.