News

Aussies In World Championship Hunt

Published Fri 15 Dec 2017

Brother and sister team Shannon and Jayden Dalton are in the box seat to become Australia’s next world champion sailors, taking a narrow lead into the final Nacra 15 showdown at the Youth Sailing World Championships in China today.

The Dalton siblings, from Western Australia, have been locked in a tense struggle with crews from Belgium, Switzerland and the US throughout the week, but hit the front of the 17-boat fleet with solid performances on the penultimate day. With just one race remaining in the 13-race series, the Australians lead second-placed Swiss duo Max Wallenberg and Amanda Bjork-Anastassov by three net points.

Australian Sailing is forging a proud record in the Nacra class with Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin capturing a silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games last year.

Also in medal contention at the Youth Worlds is 29er Girls crew Jasmin Galbraith and Chloe Fisher, who snared a first and a third yesterday to rocket into third place overall in the 20-boat fleet, just four net points behind Maiwenn Jacquin and Enora Percheron of France.

Galbraith and Fisher, from Tasmania, were a late call-up to the Australian Youth Team after reigning 29er Youth World Champions, Natasha Bryant and Annie Wilmot, elected not to defend their crown and move up to the Olympic 49erFX class.

420 Boys crew Otto Henry and Rome Featherstone are the third Australian duo to enter the last day of the Championships with a genuine medal opportunity. Henry, from NSW, and Featherstone, from WA, have had a thrilling duel with Americans Thomas Rice and Trevor Bornath at the top of the 26-boat fleet and sit just a net point away from the lead.

“Some very strong performances see us remain in medal contention,” coach Tristan Brown said.

“It was great to see our sailors bounce back from a difficult day.

“All classes have one final race tomorrow to determine their final overall rankings with plenty of change still possible.

“Despite some sailors being out of medal contention, the team is fully determined to continue their lessons from the week and finish off on a strong note tomorrow.”