Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Aussies set for Gold Fleet racing at ILCA European Championships

by Australian Sailing 7 Oct 2021 15:54 AEDT
Mara Stransky at the 2021 ILCA European Championships © Hrvoje Duvancic / nwww.regate.com.hr

It was another long and wavy day on the Black Sea as the 2021 ILCA Senior European Championships in Bulgaria hit their halfway point.

Luke Elliott is feeling good being back in competition and knows the significance this has for his Paris 2024 campaign.

"It's really important to start the lead-up to the next games well and check in with an international fleet for the first time in nearly two years," Elliott said.

Elliott is sitting fifth overall and is using this event as a warmup for the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain in early November. Elliott commented "This is all great training for the Worlds in a few weeks' time."

The top 58 Laser men will head into gold fleet racing tomorrow, with all Australian entrants making the cut.

In 27th overall, Fremantle Sailing Club athlete Ethan McAullay has found the racing challenging however is looking forward to the second half of the regatta.

"This is my first time in gold fleet at a senior event so I'm not quite sure what to expect," McAullay said. "Racing so far has been super tough. I've been struggling to get off the start line but managing to get back to good positions with good decision making and speed."

The Radial fleet only completed one of their scheduled races today. It was another strong day for Western Australian pair Elyse Ainsworth and Zoe Thomson who built on yesterday's performances finishing seventh and 11th respectively to move up the rankings.

"I am happy to be racing again," Zoe said. "It has definitely been a shock lining up against a few more boats, but overall I am open to making mistakes and will look to keep improving through the remaining days."

The Radial squad have had Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn sharing the tricks of the trade in his role as squad coach this week.

"It's been cool to have Wearny's perspective on how he approaches the challenging conditions we've seen and how he breaks down fleet management and priorities," Zoe shared. "I am definitely keen to keep learning from him and take it forward to the Worlds."

Wearn is happy with how the Radial squad are embracing the tough conditions and long waiting game.

"Today was a late start for us in 15-17 knot winds," Wearn said. "Some rain came through during the only race of the day and made for a big shift and severe drop in wind."

Wearn may need to get some tips from his Olympic coach Michael Blackburn on how to manage his days sitting in the coach boat. "The girls managed it well, although I did get some soggy socks which wasn't part of the deal!"

There were brutal Black Flags for both Zac Littlewood and Mara Stransky today, but they were not alone with 13 others receiving a BFD in the Radial fleet and 16 across the Laser fleets.

Gold fleet racing starts tomorrow, with three races scheduled for each fleet playing catch-up.

View the full results at eurilca.org/2021-senior-europeans-results

Australian Sailing Team (AST), and Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) entries:

ILCA 7 (115 Boats)
5th Luke Elliott (AST) - 2, 6, 1, (8), 2
14th Zac Littlewood (ASS) - 8, 14, 6, (BFD)
20th Finn Alexander (ASS) - 17, 19, 5, (31), 4
27th Ethan McAullay (ASS) - (25), 6, 10, 17, 22

ILCA 6 (78 Boats)
11th Elyse Ainsworth (ASS) - (38), 28. 4, 18, 7
19th Zoe Thomson (ASS) - 30, 25, (35), 10, 11
25th Mara Stransky (AST) - 4, 21, 41, 26, (BFD)
32nd Casey Imeneo (ASS) - (40), 33, 15, 24, 37

Related Articles

Australian sailors take to Olympic waters
Regatta serves as an important test, not just for sailors, but also for organisers The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is set to get begin, marking the first major combined event on the waters of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 12 Jul
Tough conditions test Morris
As iQFOiL World Championships wrap up The iQFOiL World Championships have drawn to a close in Aarhus, Denmark, following a week of light and unpredictable wind that tested both race officials and athletes to the limit. Posted on 11 Jul
Grae Morris Takes on the iQFOiL Worlds
Shifty conditions on the first day in Aarhus, Denmark Aarhus, Denmark is serving up everything but predictability as the iQFOiL World Championships get under way, and Australian Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris is ready to assert his place at the top of the new Olympic cycle. Posted on 6 Jul
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
Excess CatamaransHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350