Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

2019 ILCA Laser Standard Men's World Championship at Miho Bay, Japan - Overall

by Eric Faust 9 Jul 2019 01:59 PDT 4-9 July 2019

After the two final races, held in perfect 10-12 knot winds, Tom Burton held on to his overnight lead to become the 2019 Laser Standard Men's World Champion. This if the first world title for the 2016 Olympic gold medallist from Australia after two second place podium finishes in 2014 and 2017. Burton proved his championship form in a variety of conditions over the six-day event, and it was certainly his consistency that earned him the title.

Going into the day with an 18-point lead, it was essentially up to Burton to avoid making a critical error on the final day when each of his nearest rivals already had to discard a high score. In the day's first race, Burton sailed a conservative race to finish 14th, a score that then became his discard.

The pressure was off a bit after Jean-Baptiste Bernaz of France, who was in second place going into the day posted an eight place finish. Burton was also helped by Germany's Philip Buhl who scored a Black Flag disqualification for being over the starting line early. Buhl's black flag pushed New Zealander's Sam Meech and George Gautry in to first and second for the race and secured their spot near the top of the leaderboard.

Going into the final race, Burton still held a 13-point lead over Bernaz and fellow Australian, Matt Wearn, either of whom needed to win the final race and have Burton finish worse than 14th to secure the world championship title.

As it turned out, Brazil's Bruno Fontes led from start to finish in the final race, putting both Wearn and Bernaz out of contention to win. Burton thus claimed victory, while Bernaz's 20th place dropped him to 6th overall. Wearn's fifth place finish put him on the podium in second ahead of fellow Kiwi sailor, George Gautry, who's ninth place in the final race moved him up to third place overall.

This event also served as a country qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were sailors work to secure one of five available berths for their respective countries to send a representative to the games. In the end, the five country qualifying spots go to Sweden in 13th place, Argentina in 14th place, Russia in 17th place, Hungary in 20th place and Guatemala in 22nd place overall.

For more information:

Top ten results after 12 races:

1. Tom Burton AUS 59 pts
2. Matthew Wearn AUS 63 pts
3. George Gautrey NZL 68 pts
4. Sam Meech NZL 72 pts
5. Nick Thompson GBR 73 pts
6. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA 78 pts
7. Elliot Hanson GBR 92 pts
8. Lorenzo Chiavarini GBR 92 pts
9. Philip Buhl GER 96 pts
10. Thomas Saunders NZL 96 pts

Related Articles

2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde overall
Favourable conditions on the final day for the 302 sailors from 32 countries The 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER concluded yesterday after four days of competition in Warnemünde, Germany. Favourable sailing conditions allowed all 302 sailors from 32 countries to enjoy the final two races in the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes. Posted today at 8:53 am
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 3
Ole Schweckendiek leads ILCA 7 fleet into the final day The third and penultimate day of racing at the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER concluded yesterday in Warnemünde, Germany, with two new races completed by all fleets, except for the ILCA 6 silver group, which managed to complete only one. Posted on 8 Jul
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 2
Sometimes there's only a second between triumph and a premature start Sometimes there's only a second between triumph and a premature start — a reality that many ILCA 7 sailors faced on the second day of the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER, held during the Warnemünder Woche. Posted on 7 Jul
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 1
A total of 302 sailors from 32 countries are competing in the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes The seventh regatta of the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup Trophy kicked off yesterday in Warnemünde, Germany, with the first two races. A total of 302 sailors from 32 countries are competing in the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes. Posted on 6 Jul
Northern ILCA circuit at Rudyard Lake
Gritted teeth, hard hiking and several capsizes Rudyard Lake Sailing Club held the latest round of the Northern ILCA circuit with eleven ILCA sailors on Saturday 28th June. Posted on 3 Jul
An evening with the Scaramouche Sailing Trust
Sailing hasn't always been a sport for inner-city state schools like the Greig City Academy Sailing hasn't always been a sport for inner-city state schools like the Greig City Academy (GCA). But they've shown it can be accessible to everyone, with amazing results. Posted on 2 Jul
2025 EurILCA Master FRA at Carnac
A total of 63 Master sailors took part The 2025 EurILCA Master FRA concluded on Sunday in Carnac, France, after three days of competition, with all six scheduled races successfully completed. A total of 63 Master sailors took part in the event, which was organized by the Yacht Club de Carnac. Posted on 1 Jul
World Sailing announces split venues for LA28
The boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port World Sailing has said it welcomes the confirmation of sailing venues for the Olympic Games LA28 the boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port. Posted on 30 Jun
Bronze breakthrough for Liddell and Brown
Nacra 17 duo claim their first international podium at Kieler Woche Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have claimed their first international podium in the Nacra 17 class, securing bronze at Kieler Woche, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the season. Posted on 30 Jun
2025 International Classes Regatta preview
The ICR has earned a stellar reputation as an outstanding lead-up regatta for competitors The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is proud to announce that the 2025 International Classes Regatta (ICR)—the Club's premier annual dinghy event—will take place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025. Posted on 27 Jun
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastSea Sure 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTER