Aussies smash iQFOiL
Australia scored some of their best results on their final day of the iQFOiL European Championships on Lake Garda in Italy.
23 May 2022
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Australian Sailing Futures (ASF) athlete Will McMillan was best placed. The 16-year-old moved up the Gold fleet leaderboard to finish 34th overall, courtesy of seventh and third places in two of the day’s four Slalom races.
In the Women’s Gold fleet, fellow ASF athlete Natasha Bryant maintained the 48th overall position she has held for the past three days.
Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) athlete, Grae Morris scored a third, followed by a trio of bullets to win the Silver fleet 23 points clear of his nearest rival.
I’ve had a pretty good time in the Silver fleet and finished with good results today,” commented 18-year-old Morris.
“It’s all good practice for the Worlds in France (in October). Being in Silver, sailing with a big fleet, allows you to practice every day. Every point counts. I learned a bit of everything this week. Now I know what I really need to practice when I get home.”
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Fifteen-year-old Harry Joyner (ASF) scored third in the Silver fleet to move up the board, while Caelin Winchcombe (ASS) produced a best of seventh place. Queensland’s Samantha Costin (ASF) also scored a win in the Women’s Silver fleet to move up.
“Will and Natasha made it into the Gold fleets and that’s a positive,” said National iQFOiL coach, Arthur Brett.
“Will had another very good day and moved up seven places on the scoreboard. Grae did everything he possibly could in the Silver fleet, which will be good for his confidence. It still takes incredible judgement to get the starts right in the big fleet (76 foilers).
“Our goals before the trip were to stay where we are on the world stage and to get to the skill set of the more established sailors, these are the thing we need to develop,” Brett continued.
“Some techniques need refining. Our sailors haven’t been exposed to international competition until last month, so being here has been invaluable, there is no replacement for that.”
A fickle breeze on the Torbole course area on the north shore of Lake Garda during the fifth day of competition forced officials to delay racing. When racing on the Slalom courses did get underway, the breeze was an inconsistent 10 to 12 knots, dropping away at times throughout the day, testing all competitors.
Saturday local time was the final day of competition for the Australians. Sunday was dedicated to the Medal Series for the first 10 overall ranked athletes from the Opening Series in Women’s and Men’s Gold fleets to decide the podiums.
Australian Sailing Squad and Australian Sailing Futures results and overall placings:
iQFOiL Men’s Gold fleet: 20 races (four drops)
34th: Will McMillan (ASF) DSQ, 11, 17, 2, (43), (73), 20, 8, (43), 37,29, 29, (67), (65), 2, 16, 27, 7, 3, 19 = 322 points.
iQFOiL Men’s Silver fleet: 20 races (four drops)
78th: Grae Morris (ASS) 23, 19, 17, (35), (53), 29, 19, 30, (5), 2, 1, 1, 1, 4, 4, (12), 3, 1, 1, 1 = 156 points.
113th: Harry Joyner (ASF) 11, 11, 21, 23, (68), (65), 61, 61, 25, (36), 32, 32, (47), (61), 33, 35, 13, 23, 3, 11 = 431 points.
114th: Caelin Winchcombe (ASS) (31), 25, 23, 11, (65), 49, (59). 46, (57), 27, 33, 33, 40, 17, (41), 37, 11, 25, 7, 35 = 450 points.
139th: Jack Marquardt (ASF) 29, 27, 35, 39, 51, (67), (70), 59, 46, 45, (64), 64, 50, 60, 47, (DNF), 33, 15, DNC, DNS = 682 points.
iQFOiL Women’s Gold fleet: 20 races (four drops)
48th:Natasha Bryant (ASF) 19, 25, 13, (DNC), 25, (RDG), 12, (27), (BFD), 45, 44, 44, (46), 31, 44, 37, 41, 21, 39, 45 = 505.33 points.
iQFOiL Women’s Silver fleet: 20 races (four drops)
60th: Samantha Costin (ASF) (29), 21, 27, (DNF), 29, 26, 25, 26, (18), 8, 8, 8, 28, (DNF), 23, (29), 1, 27, 13, 5 = 293 points.
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