Australian Sailing Team at the 470 World Championship - Day 5
by Australian Sailing Team 9 Aug 2019 05:25 BST
Day 5 of the Yamaha 470 World Championships, Enoshima, Japan © Junichi Hirai / Bulkhead Magazine Japan
Silver medalists from Rio 2016 Mat Belcher and Will Ryan are guaranteed either a gold or silver placing at the 470 World Championship which wraps up on Enoshima Bay in Japan today, Friday August 9.
Racing got under way on schedule at 1200 hours on Thursday with the wind between 11-13 knots and big, long waves - ideal conditions for the 470 class.
Women's 470
Australia's Nia Jerwood, racing with Monique De Vries, has come a long way since her last World Championship appearance in Japan, a 4th place at the 2015 420 Worlds in Karatsu.
"It's pretty awesome," grinned Jerwood on the pair securing Australia's Tokyo 2020 qualification and a spot in the medal race. "It was certainly our goal coming into this event, so we are very excited. It has been a very gruelling past few days with plenty of curve balls thrown our way. We gave it our all, performing across the wind range and earning our place in the medal race tomorrow!"
"This is what we train for," commented de Vries on the demands of the championship. "We do our fitness training so we can back up day after day, and compete at our best."
Next up for the Fremantle duo is national selection. "We are not guaranteed to be sent to the Games, but if we keep performing we will be very excited to hopefully represent Australia," Jerwood added.
Men's 470
Spanish pair of Xammar/Rodriguez and Australians Belcher/Ryan go into the final medal race with a point separating the top two duelling teams.
Seven-time 470 world champion Belcher is excited about the challenge ahead, saying on Thursday, "It was really great racing and that is why we do it. It has been a physically tough championship and mentally really difficult, and why I like to be at this level and to fight with Jordi (Xammar). I know tomorrow we are going to have a great day."
The breeze and big seas over the past few days have taken their toll said Ryan. "It's been a pretty tough event; probably survival of the fittest a bit," echoing sentiments about fitness levels. "Two of us going for gold, that's the way we like it."
AST coach Victor Kovalenko said overnight: "One more interesting day on Sagami course with wind building from 12 to 20 knots, and really big waves at the end of the day. Our boys, in spite of few technical problems with their boat, minimised the Spanish team's lead by winning the last race."
Racing in the silver group, Chris Charlwood and Josh Dawson from WA are running 33rd overall with one day remaining.
Results after Day 5:
Men (52 boats)
2nd Mat Belcher & Will Ryan 4, 4, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, (5), 1 = 24pts
33rd Chris Charlwood & Josh Dawson 20, (25), 12, 6, 20, 6, 3, 11, 14, 6, 7 = 105pts
Women (39 boats)
9th Nia Jerwood & Monique de Vries 7, 12, (27), 15, 19, 4, 7, 11, 13, 10, 9 = 107pts
Full results available here.
Live tracking available here.
For more information visit event website.