Difficult conditions challenge sailors at Sail Sydney 2024
by Australian Sailing 9 Dec 01:58 PST
6-9 December 2024
Jack Ferguson and Max Paul – Sail Sydney 2024 © Fynn Sprott
Sail Sydney offered four days of intense competition as fog, storms, rain, and gusty winds created a challenging environment for both racers and the race committee.
Despite the tough conditions, winners arose from various classes, with Sydney Harbour offering an iconic setting for the demanding races.
Australian Sailing Team’s Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot made a triumphant return to the 49erFX fleet, achieving a nearly flawless record, missing only two races out of 12. Harding remarked about the varying conditions, “Each day brought unique challenges and every single race was different. It was all about seizing opportunities and maximizing them.”
Looking ahead, Harding and Wilmot have a busy schedule for the 2025 European season. Harding explained, “Next, we will focus on more training followed by a Christmas and New Year break. Then, we’ll have another training camp to get into the routine before heading to Europe in early March for cold Palma.”
In the 49er class, Australian Sailing Pathway Team members Jack Ferguson and Max Paul faced a strong local fleet but still secured the regatta victory. Paul reflected, “This event was challenging but it felt great to get back into racing, our first regatta since Europe last season, and racing alongside other Australian boats is really exciting for the next four years.”
Paul further noted, “We still have extensive training ahead before returning to Europe, and we’re developing a fantastic squad of young 49er sailors, all of whom had their moments this week. The upcoming months should be very exciting as we approach the next four years and see how we progress.”
Olympic silver medalist Grae Morris led the iQfoil fleet after completing 15 fantastic races on Botany Bay. Reflecting on his performance, Morris said, “I just wrapped up the local series; a few athletes are heading to Sail Brisbane, but I’ll be taking some time off, so this was an important season finale.”
He continued, “We experienced a full spectrum of conditions, managed to complete all the races, and it was encouraging to witness significant improvements from all competitors, showing that the training is paying off for the entire squad.”
Meanwhile, 2024 Olympian Evie Haseldine is enjoying the progression with her new helmsman Brooke Wilson, who has transitioned from the ILCA6 to the 49erFX. Commenting on the transition, Haseldine stated, “It’s definitely tricky to return to the boat with someone from the ILCA6, really testing my skills and knowledge post-Games.”
“I initially returned to the boat soon after the Olympics just for the love of sailing, wanting to enjoy it again without the Olympic pressure. So, I’m back for the joy of it, and Brooke is doing an outstanding job,” Haseldine concluded.
In the ILCA classes, Australian Sailing Team members primarily took a break following Sail Melbourne, gearing up for Sail Brisbane later this month. Local NSW sailor Sara Bruce claimed victory in the ILCA6, while Jake Farren-Price (NSW) earned the ILCA7 title, and Sophie Jackson (VIC) and Jamie Randall (WA) emerged as winners in the Mixed 470. Anna Crispey (VIC) impressed in the iQFOiL Women’s category, establishing herself as a contender to watch.
The Formula Kite event was marked by international competition, with Italy’s Lorenzo Boschetti winning in the Men’s division, while New Zealand’s Lucy Bilger raced among the men to represent the women’s category.
Numerous athletes from the Australian Sailing Team will continue their training at the National Training Centre before the Christmas break or will participate in Sail Brisbane, scheduled for 18-21 December, ahead of their respective class national championships.
To view the full results, visit sailsydney.org/results
