Please select your home edition
Edition
Vetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 LEADERBOARD

Morris moves up to sixth at iQFOiL Europeans

by Blue Robinson 13 May 2023 10:08 AEST 9-14 May 2023
Twilight racing for the women's fleet in Patras at the iQFOiL Europeans © Sailing Energy

Sydneysider Grae Morris is stitching together a stunning set of results at the iQFOiL European Championships, with yet another race win has moving him up to sixth overall with two days of racing to come in Greece.

In lighter conditions of 8-10 knots, Morris (Australian Sailing Squad and NSWIS) also posted a third, fifth and 11th to his impressive scorecard today. His win came in the slalom discipline, involving four races divided into heats of twenty-three sailors per heat.

“It was a light wind slalom today after a delay onshore, and with such short racing the start is incredibly important,” said Morris. “If you can do that well then really everything lines up, but if you struggle at the start, there is a whole lot of work to try to come back.”

A day of tight racing saw plenty of general recalls, as iQFOiL coach Arthur Brett explained.

“These slalom races today were frenetic, with the races only lasting about three and a half minutes, and so there is very little room for error. Grae had a really good day, moving up to 6th place overall, which is fantastic. Today was about being super accurate with your judgment, and if I were to sum it up, you really needed courage and poise.”

The women’s fleet with Samantha Costin (Australian Sailing Squad and QAS) was scheduled late in the afternoon, where the light conditions saw many of the fleet unable to foil in race one. With the sea breeze finally kicking in, three slalom races were run for the women’s fleet. The race committee tried for a fourth, but bad light prevented them from being able to follow through.

“Three races today, and the last one for me was a bit of a dud,” said Costin.

“I didn’t get off the start line as it was more congested than the previous two races. Today saw just a couple of small errors that I will work on to clean up, and that includes just being a little more assertive on the start line on these short course events.”

Harry Joyner (Australian Sailing Squad and WAIS) had a mixed day, black flagged in his first race of the day. “It was tricky out there in light conditions and I pushed a little too hard in that first start, but it was good to come back after that,” noted Joyner.

Coach Arthur Brett summed up the squad’s progress so far at this event.

“All these sailors are learning a massive amount, whether they are at the front of the fleet or the middle. For Harry to be in Gold fleet and mixing it up with the best in the world, you just can’t get that in the small amount of racing we do in Australia. We need this exposure to the big fleets and to compete in as many regattas as we can. They train well and they are enjoying the success that Grae is having because they are a tight group of dedicated teammates.”

Racing continues on Saturday 13th May, and with conditions again forecast to be light, with racing due to start at 1pm local time.

Visit the event website for full results.

Australian Sailing Squad (ASS), Australian Sailing Futures (ASF) and other Australian (AUS) entries:

iQFOiL Men - 14 races (four drops)
6th Grae Morris (ASS) (NSWIS) 11, (12), 4, 7, (16), 1, 4, 3, (11), 1, 11 (18), 3, 1, 11, 5 = 62pts
56th Harry Joyner (ASS) (WAIS) (34), 16, 11, 16, 14, 28, (32), 25, 41, (46), 45, (54), BFD 39, 33, 35, 35 = 338pts
75th Steve Allen (ASS) 28, (40), 35, 26, (37), 30, 24, 34, 9, DNC (58), 12, DNC (58) = 256pts
99th Jack Marquardt (AUS) (VIS) 45, 42, 44, (50) 50, DNF (58), 47, 46, 29, 38, (41), 29 = 370pts

iQFOiL Women – 14 races (three drops)
69th Samantha Costin (ASS) (QAS) 31, (39), (32), 32, 31, 29, 28, 31, 20, 24, 20, 15, 23, 21, (33) = 305pts

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
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
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
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
Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May
Littlewood claims bronze in ILCA7 Worlds
It was a tale of two winds that decided the World Champions Zac Littlewood has claimed a bronze medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Qingdao, China, after an intense and unpredictable week of racing. Posted on 17 May
Breiana Whitehead set for Formula Kite Europeans
The Australian kitefoiler is back on the international stage this week Australian kitefoiler Breiana Whitehead is back on the international stage this week, as she lines up against top level competition at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye from May 14 to 19. Posted on 14 May
Game on in Qingdao for the 2025 ILCA Worlds
237 of the world's best sailors from 40 nations prepare to battle it out The stage is set in Qingdao, China, as 237 of the world's best sailors from 40 nations prepare to battle it out over six intense days of racing at the 2025 ILCA6 and ILCA7 World Championships. Posted on 12 May
Sea Sure 2025North Sails Loft 57 PodcastExcess Catamarans