Melbourne Storm blows out penultimate day of Sail Melbourne International

by Sail Melbourne International 2 Dec 2017 09:01 GMT 29 November - 3 December 2017

Finn fleet - Sail Melbourne International 2017 © Gordon Hyde

Strong winds and a difficult sea state forced the Sail Melbourne International Race Committee to call off racing on the penultimate event day of Sail Melbourne International (29 Nov – 3 December 2017), which was the final day of Olympic class racing (29 November – 2 December). The Invited Classes still have one day of racing left on Sunday, 3 November 2017 with the Race Committee continuing to monitor the weather conditions at Royal Brighton Yacht Club. For the Olympic classes the cancellation of racing on their final day meant that medal winners were decided on race results from the three previous days of racing.

A stellar-line up of Olympic and World Champions had come to Melbourne for this year's Sail Melbourne International with the men's heavyweight Finn class one of the most anticipated fleets spearheaded by 2017 World Champion Max Salminen from Sweden and Australian America's Cup sailor, new-Finn addition and 2012 Olympic gold medallist in the Laser Tom Slingsby. Former World Champion Ed Wright from Great Britain, Kyle Martin from Canada and Rock Evans from Bermuda completed the international, high profile line-up in the Finn, which saw some tight racing on the Port Phillip race track.

Finn podium Tom Slingsby, Jake Lilley, Oliver Tweddell - Sail Melbourne International 2017 - photo © Gordon Hyde

It was the Australians, who took the podium with Australian Sailing Team's Rio 2016 Olympian Jake Lilley (QLD) at the top after winning four of the six races over the three days of racing. Tom Slingsby won silver, while Australian Sailing Team's and local Victorian Oliver Tweddell finished third. Drawing lots of attention to the event with his appearance in the Finn, Tom Slingsby left his plans for the future open: "I don't really know what I'm doing yet. As I said on my social media a month or two back, I want to sail all of the classes I can and I've been very fortunate. NB Sail Sport's Rob McMillan has lent me a boat and given me some Finn equipment. I would love to come sail the laser against these guys (Tom Burton) and do some sailing with them. Plus sail the Finn again, I have a Moth on the way and I guess I'm just enjoying myself having a bit of fun and doing as many regattas as I can.

Laser podium Matt Wearn, Tom Burton, Jeremy O'Connell - Sail Melbourne International 2017 - photo © Gordon Hyde

And standing between Jake Lilley and Rio 2016 Olympic champion in the Laser Tom Burton, Slingsby added: "I want these guys to go to the Olympics and win gold medals, so if I don't campaign, I will still be here as a training partner for these guys and help them as much as I can."

Tom Burton (NSW) took home the win in the Laser after winning three of the seven-race series. Australian Sailing Team mate Matt Wearn (WA) finished second, while local Victorian Jeremy O'Connell finished third.

Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallists Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) won the mixed-multihull Nacra 17 and were all smiles despite the wind and rain on the final day.

"The event was awesome. We had really good weather until today and it's been lot's of fun tearing around on Australian waters again. It's always raining on pack up day and you've always got to have one of these days down in Melbourne. But it's been a really fun event and it has been cool racing with the Nacra 15 (Invited Classes) who are here and I hope they still get some racing in" Lisa Darmanin said.

Jaime Ryan & Carrie Smith - Sail Melbourne International 2017 - photo © Gordon Hyde

Australian Olympic teammates and Rio 2016 silver medallists Mat Belcher and Will Ryan won the men's two-person dinghy 470 event ahead of Japan's Daichi Takayam and Kimihiko Imamura in second and Doi Kazuto and Naoya Kimura in third. Rio 2016 Olympians in the women's 470 Carrie Smith (WA) and Jaime Ryan (QLD) won the women's event and finished fifth overall in the mixed fleet.

49er podium: Will & Sam Phillips | Joel Turner & David Gilmour | Judge Ryan & Hans Henken - Sail Melbourne International 2017 - photo © Gordon Hyde

Medals in the men's 49er skiff went to Australian Sailing Team's David Gilmour (WA) and Joel Turner (QLD) in first, Australian Sailing Team's brothers Will and Sam Phillips (VIC) in second and US Sailing Team's Judge Ryan and Hans Henken in third.

"It's Australian summer and this is the first event. We're all headed up to Sail Sydney next, which starts next week, so we'll do some training on the harbour, do that regatta, and then our Nationals in Brisbane," Joel Turner said about their busy Australian summer of sailing ahead.

US Sailing was represented with two 49er crews in Melbourne with fourth placed Nevin Snow and Mac Agnese enjoying the opportunity of sailing against the strong Australian 49er squad.

"You just can't get enough sailing. We pretty much had every condition here in Melbourne and started off with a pretty big bang in the front of the fleet, but struggled when the wind got shifty. Obviously, the Australians have it pretty good figured out, especially in the 49ers, so it's good to get into the mix here with the best guys. We'll also be heading to Sydney next and are looking forward to more training and racing," Nevin Snow said.

Ella Clark (WA) and Amelia Stabback (NSW) won the women's skiff 49erFX and like everyone were understanding of the race committee's decision. "The race officers have been fantastic this week. Today is unfortunate, but you can't really help it and it's the nature of our sport. With the wind and waves you can see out there, it's definitely a good call not to head out today," Ella Clark said.

In other results, Jo Sterling (QLD) won the RS:X ahead of Australian Sailing Youth Team's Alex Halank (NSW), while the Bic Techno RS:X feeder class was won by Victorian Will Grimshaw.

Racing for the Invited classes is scheduled to resume on Sunday, 3 December 2017 pending on the race committee's decision in the morning. See results from the Invited classes day one here.