Backyard Olympics
Former Olympic Champions have been confirmed as competing in this year’s Australian Etchells Championships.
09 June 2021
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The 2021 Australian Etchells Championship are on track to commence this week, with the competitors briefing at the Mooloolaba Yacht Club, located at The Wharf, Mooloolaba, at 6:00pm 9 June AEST.
This regatta will be the first major Etchell event in Australia since 2019, with the 2020 Australian Etchell Championship becoming postponed following COVID-19 restrictions.
Organisers have confirmed there will be close to 40 teams competing, including several notable sailors and previous winners, including the HillPDA Sailing Team which includes Olympic Medallists Mat Belcher and Will Ryan.
Belcher won the gold medal in the 470 Class during the London 2012 Olympics before winning the silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics with Ryan as his teammate.
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The duo will be on board as part of a training unit for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where they will again compete for the gold medal in the 470 Class. But this won’t be Belcher or Ryan’s first experience in an Etchells competition – the duo competing separately in the 2018 Etchells World Championships.
Belcher and his crew would go on to win the championship, trailed closed by Ryan and his crew in second place.
“How lucky am I,” said HillPDA skipper Martin Hill, who was on board with Belcher during the 2018 Etchell World Championships alongside Julian Plante, who has also been named in this year’s HillPDA Sailing Team crew.
HillPDA will also be sailing their 2018-winning boat, Lisa Rose.
This year’s Australian Etchells Championship is expected to run from 10–13 June. Running concurrently will be the 2021 Australasian Winter Championship which is expected to feature a crossover in fleet members.
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