Good signs

Australia’s Mat Belcher and Will Ryan are showing medal potential at this year’s 470 2021 European Championships.

05 May 2021

Australia’s ambitions for securing a medal in the 470 men’s division at the Tokyo Olympic Games, currently scheduled for July, are brimming with potential following Mat Belcher and Will Ryan’s performance at the 470 European Championships.

Following the second day of racing at this year’s championship, both Belcher and Ryan are sitting in third place, only four points behind leaders Paul Snow-Hansen & Daniel Willcox of New Zealand.

This is the pair’s first international competition in 18 months.

With light winds through Portugal’s Algarve region, Belcher and Ryan patiently settled into the afternoon before finding clear air at the compression points.

“We had a good day overall,” said Belcher.

“Races were held in 5–6 knots and were high density, making it a key day in terms of event strategy. It was nice to come away with an 8 and a 3 and consolidate where we are on the leaderboard.

Day 2 highlights, 2021 470 European Championship.

“It is going to be a high scoring event – we are just trying to save as many points as we can.”

The 2021 European Championship format is 11 races and a medal race on 7 May for the 10 highest ranked boats.

“It’s good for Will and I to build on yesterday; we feel like we are getting into a good rhythm and remembering what it was like to be back in competition after being out for such a long time. We are ticking off the boxes we need to before we head home.”

In the Women’s 470, Australians Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries posted their best result so far: an eight in the first race on the second day. Sadly, a penalty hobbled the pair in the next race pushed them to 16^th.

“Our first race was quite good. We were making gains around the course, especially at high congestion moments. In the second race we started in high traffic and I misjudged a tack and duck, resulting in a two-turn penalty after the start,” said Jerwood.

“Our only option was to go right to try and catch the fleet but the wind shifted to the left. We caught up on to the back of the fleet but it wasn’t enough to pass anyone. The points are still really close and with six races to go anything is possible.”

Australian Sailing’s Director – Tokyo 2020 Olympic Campaign Iain Murray reflected on the significance of international competition in the lead up, saying “it’s an essential part of our preparation as we aim to inspire the nation during these challenging times”.

Live tracking for the 470 2021 European Championships is available via Facebook or YouTube.