Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 TOP

Nacra 15 Gold for Australia at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Gdynia, Poland

by Australian Sailing Youth 18 Jul 2019 19:08 PDT
2019 Hempel Youth Sailing World Championships © Szymon Sikora

Australian Sailing's Will Cooley and Rebecca Hancock have won gold in the Mixed Nacra 15 at the 2019 Hempel Youth Sailing World Championships in Gdynia, Poland with one day to spare.

The lead in the Nacra 15 changed on a daily basis but it was the Australians who ultimately prevailed. The Sydney pair finished the penultimate day of the Youth Sailing world titles with an unassailable nine-point lead after posting a second, eighth and fifth place.

"It's unreal and it doesn't feel real at all. We've both worked so hard and it definitely paid off," an emotional Bec Hancock said after racing.

"All the effort we've put it and to see it come out the other end is just the best feeling," Will Cooley agreed.

Across the week Cooley and Hancock have not won one race but their consistency is unrivalled and they have not finished outside of the top eight once. With one race remaining, they have clinched gold as they hold enough of a points buffer over the French team to confirm the title.

"Being consistent and working together as best as we can, that's what this came from. There wasn't any secret to it," 2018 Youth Olympian Cooley said.

"We played it low risk and raced smart, not racing to win any races but to win the regatta. We wanted to be consistent and try our best," Hancock added.

The emotional pair, who are New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders and sail for Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Woollahra Sailing Club, also thanked their support team.

"We want to say big thanks to Australian Sailing and big thanks to our parents and just to everyone around us supporting us," Cooley said.

Hancock also added a thank you to their coaches with the pair coached by Matt Jerwood at the Youth World's.

And in a message to all up and coming youth sailors, Cooley added, "Just keep at it. It might not feel like you are doing the best, wherever you are, but it will always pen out well as long as you put in the effort and the hard work. So keep it going, keep the drive and motivation."

All Cooley and Hancock have to do on Friday in their final race now is to stay out of trouble and avoid a non-discardable disqualification or penalty to confirm their win.

Gold medals were also already decided in the 420 fleets with New Zealand winning the Boy's 420 and USA the Girl's division with just one race remaining. Australia is out of medal contention in both events with both the boys and the girls dropping two spots into 12th and 14th respectively after two races on the penultimate day.

Ryan Littlechild and Jack Ferguson dropped into 12th after posting a 12th and 24th, while Lily and Matilda Richardson posted an 18th and 23rd and dropped. into 14th.

The points are close heading into the final day for the remaining six events with plenty up and downs shaking up the leader boards.

The race for gold will go down to the wire in the Boy's Laser Radial fleet on Friday with Western Australia Zac Littlewood in the lead going into the final day.

The Western Australian, who won bronze at last year's world championships, claimed two seconds on Thursday to remove local hopeful Tytus Butowski (POL) from top spot but just one point splits the pair.

Their discards are not comfortable enough for them to match race on the water but fireworks are expected with Butowski looking to draw upon his experience of his home waters and with Littlewood ready to battle it out.

Also still in medal contention are Australia's 29er-boys with Archi Cropley and Max Paul going into the final day ranked third. The pair posted a seventh and 13th and are five points behind Finland in second place. Leaders Norway are ahead by 33 points.

In the 29er-girls three races were sailed on Thursday with a 19-26 RET-12 scorecard for Tasmanians Alice Buchanan and Dervla Duggan, who dropped from ninth into 13th place. Two races will follow on Friday.

In other Australian results, Maddie O'Shea had a challenging day posting a 42nd and 41st in the Laser Radial Girls and sits in 25th.

In the RS:X (Boys) Hamish Swain finished the penultimate day in 22nd. In the RS:X Girls' Amelia Quinlan was back on the board after she had to retire following a collision and a damaged board the day before. She posted a 17th and 20th and sits in 19th overall.

Racing is scheduled to commence at the earlier time of 10:40 on Friday 19 July as the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships concludes.

Australian Team Results:

  • Nacra 15 (Mixed team) Will Cooley and Rebecca Hancock (NSW): 2, 3, 2, 5, 5, 4, 7, (8), 4, 2, 8, 5 - 1st
  • 29er (Boys) Max Paul and Archie Cropley: 5, 8, (13), 4, 8, 7, 4, 1, 3, 7, 13 - 3rd
  • 29er (Girls) Alice Buchanan and Dervla Duggan (TAS): 19, (26 UFD), 20, 11, 3, 3, 3, 3, 19, 26 RET, 12 - 13th
  • 420 (Boys) Ryan Littlechild and Jack Ferguson (NSW): 21, 16, 7, 18, 2, 4, 12, (24) - 12th
  • 420 (Girls) Lily and Matilda Richardson (VIC): 12, 16, 18, 3, 13, 6, 18, (23) - 14th
  • Laser Radial (Boys) Zac Littlewood (WA): 26, 6, 1, (58 RET), 2, 1, 2, 2 - 1st
  • Laser Radial (Girls) Maddie O'Shea (NSW): 40, 31, 29, 2, 2, 9, (42), 41 - 25th
  • RS:X (Boys) Hamish Swain (QLD): 11, 12, 21, 23, (24), 24, 22, 19, 18, 18 - 22nd
  • RS:X (Girls) Amelia Quinlan (NSW): 17, 20, 18, 15, (21 DNS), (21 DNC), (21 DNC), 17, 20 - 19th
Full results available here.

For more information visit the event website, worldsailingywc.org.

Related Articles

AST and B&G extend high-performing partnership
Continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team AST has announced the renewal of its long-term partnership with B&G, the world's leading sailing navigation and instrument specialists, continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team over the past eight years. Posted on 2 Jul
Australian Sailing welcomes new CEO
Malcolm Page OAM brings a wealth of experience to the role Australian Sailing is pleased to announce the appointment of respected sports administrator and dual Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Page OAM OLY as its new Chief Executive Officer. Posted on 1 Jul
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
Aussies Break into Top 10 at Kieler Woche
Put to the test from light air to heavy breeze The first half of Kieler Woche has wrapped up in Germany, with Australian sailors putting themselves to the test in five Olympic classes. Kiel delivered a complete spectrum of conditions for athletes to sharpen their racing skills. Posted on 26 Jun
Vale Hugh Treharne OAM
The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors, Hugh Treharne OAM, who died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Sydney last night. Posted on 25 Jun
Australian Sailors ready to tackle Kiel Week
The third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam Australia's Olympic class sailors are set to tackle Kiel Week, the third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam, held in the north of Germany. Posted on 21 Jun
Zhik and Australian Sailing renew partnership
For a fourth Olympic cycle Zhik and Australian Sailing are proud to celebrate over a decade of partnership, one built on innovation, elite performance and podium success. Since 2013, the collaboration has helped deliver four Olympic gold medals and four silver medals. Posted on 20 Jun
Top 10 finishes for Aussie crews in Europeans
Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding week in Greece Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, with light winds, lengthy delays, and multiple general recalls pushing teams to their limits throughout the week. Posted on 9 Jun
Young Aussie squad ready to shine at Europeans
Australia's fast boat sailors are set for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans in Greece Australia's fast boat sailors are set to take on the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships this week in Thessaloniki, Greece. With up to 18 races scheduled over the next six days, it's set to be a high-intensity regatta. Posted on 2 Jun
Event updates dominate this week's industry news
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania The 36th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) has once again cemented its status as the Southern Hemisphere's premier marine event, drawing an impressive 45,865 visitors over four spectacular days from 22-25 May. Posted on 29 May
Palm Beach Motor YachtsRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast