Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships in The Hague - Day 10

by World Sailing 20 Aug 2023 10:05 PDT 10-20 August 2023
2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships Day 10 © Sailing Energy / World Sailing

Hungary's Maria Erdi came through an exceptionally tight medal race to claim the final gold of the 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships in The Hague.

The 25-year-old went into the ILCA 6 medal race in third spot, but was able to step up in the medal race, finishing third, which was enough to clinch a maiden world title.

Earlier in the day, Matt Wearn (AUS) confirmed his own global crown in the ILCA 7, safely negotiating the medal race to add a world title to his Olympic gold won in Tokyo.

And it was the host nation, the Netherlands, who finished these Allianz Sailing World Championships as the most successful nation. Gold medals for Luuc van Opzeeland in the iQFOiL and Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken in the 49er, ensuring they retain the IOC President's Trophy for the best nation.

ILCA 6

Entering the medal race four points behind leader Maud Jayet (SUI), Maria Erdi knew she had the chance to take a first gold medal of these Championships for Hungary.

And when the Swiss sailor picked up a penalty on the second leg, it opened the door for Erdi.

She needed no second invitation, coming home in third to finish on 75 points, four clear of Jayet, who took a second consecutive world silver, with 2022 champion Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) taking bronze.

For Erdi, it has been a long journey, with early success hard to back up, but the 25-year-old has now achieved her dream of winning the world title.

She said: "I'm a world champion, which sounds pretty amazing. I'm very happy for my family, my friends and for my small support staff that I have back in Hungary. I'm just very proud of the work we have been doing with my coach. I was hoping and believing that I will get here one day. The day has finally arrived and I'm just over the moon.

"It hasn't been easy. I became quite good in the senior fleet when I was quite young. When I was 18, I was able to deliver top 10 results and things were happening for me quite easily in the early stages of my career but it all started getting real, I got an injury and I realised that you need to put in a lot of work to deliver a World Championship title in the senior fleet."

ILCA 7

Matt Wearn (AUS) had all but wrapped up gold on Saturday, entering the medal race 20 points clear and needing only to avoid a penalty to take victory.

His sixth place clinched a gold medal on the world stage after three previous silvers, a particularly satisfying result having spent much of the last couple of years trying to get over Long Covid.

He said: "It feels great. It feels like it's been a long time coming. Not that I started to doubt that the performance was there but it's always a shame to just miss out on the top step. So there is a bit of relief, I'm ecstatic to have won a World Championship now.

"We have been so close so many times. I probably haven't grabbed every opportunity that I've had on the water and other people have been better on the week. I can't say I've been unlucky. But it feels great to finally get it."

The bigger question in the ILCA 7 was over who would take silver and bronze - George Gautrey (NZL) went into the race with a precarious one-point lead over Mickey Beckett (GBR).

Beckett had led the competition all week, before dropping to third in the final race of the opening series. He recovered from that disappointment to finish second in the medal race behind 2020 world champion Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA).

That was enough to overhaul Gautrey and take silver, with the Kiwi settling for bronze.

The President of the IOC Trophy

For the second Sailing World Championships running, the Netherlands emerged as the most successful nation, claiming the President of the IOC Trophy for the best nation.

In addition to gold medals for Luuc van Opzeeland in the iQFOiL Men and Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken in the 49er, they also took silver in the 49erFX courtesy of Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz.

That saw them finish ahead of Israel who were second nation thanks to gold and silver in the iQFOiL Women, with Australia, France, Italy, Japan and Sweden all level in third.

Event website: thehague2023.sailing.org

Related Articles

NYYC hosts 2025 World Sailing Mid-Year Meeting
Board conducted a series of productive strategic meetings The gathering brought the World Sailing Board and Council together in person at the Club's historic 44th Street Clubhouse in Manhattan—an iconic venue designed by Whitney Warren, renowned architect of Grand Central Station. Posted on 19 May
World Sailing Inclusion Championships preview
Event will bring together an expected 215 sailors from around the world, to Oman The Sultanate of Oman has been chosen to host the first edition of the new World Sailing Inclusion Championships. Posted on 14 May
World Sailing Annual Conference & Awards preview
This will be the second time the town has hosted a World Sailing Annual Conference. The coastal destination of Dún Laoghaire has been chosen to host the 2025 World Sailing Annual Conference and World Sailing Awards from 3-8 November 2025, bringing together over 400 international delegates. Posted on 9 May
Hannah Mills OBE to share carbon footprint success
At World Sailing Sustainability Session Great Britain's most successful female Olympic sailor and strategist for Emirates GBR SailGP Team, Hannah Mills OBE, will headline as guest speaker at World Sailing's upcoming Sustainability Session on renewable energy in the sport. Posted on 8 May
World Sailing welcomes LA28 athlete quota
The Int. Olympic Committee's has announced the of athlete Quotas, Sports and Events for LA28 World Sailing has welcomed the International Olympic Committee's announcement of athlete quotas, sports and events for the 2028 Olympics, due to be held in Los Angeles. Posted on 10 Apr
World Sailing Race Officials Training programme
Available to Member National Authorities to apply for on an annual basis World Sailing is proud to announce the launch of a new education programme for Race Officials. Posted on 1 Apr
World Sailing launches new coaching scholarship
Each programme combines experiential learning on the water with in-person sessions World Sailing is celebrating the launch of the World Sailing Coaches Scholarship 2025-2028, a brand-new programme for Member National Authorities (MNAs) which targets coaches and instructors working in grassroots sailing through to national level. Posted on 31 Mar
Fortaleza to host 2027 World Sailing Championships
Fortaleza is the capital of the seaside state of Ceará and a popular sailing destination. The Brazilian city of Fortaleza has been chosen to host the one-person events at the 2027 World Sailing Championships. Posted on 27 Mar
World Sailing welcomes Brisbane 2032 review
Supporting the recommendations of the study World Sailing welcomes the 100 Day Review by the Queensland Government's Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority as an important step towards delivering a successful Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Posted on 25 Mar
World Sailing congratulates new IOC President
Elected following today's vote in the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, World Sailing sends its warmest congratulations to new IOC President Kirsty Coventry. Posted on 20 Mar
Zhik 2024 DecemberNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOM