Please select your home edition
Edition
495 McKinley Drive Lboard Dec 2024

Japan testing ground for Tokyo 2020 Laser selectors

by Australian Sailing Team 5 Jul 2019 22:50 UTC
Start line on day 1 of the ILCA Laser Standard Men's World Championship © Junichi Hirai / Bulkhead Magazine Japan

Only 10 points separate the top 10 sailors after day one of the 2019 ILCA Laser Standard Men's World Championship in Sakaiminato-City, Japan, where five AST and ASS athletes are vying for a world title and the chance to impress Tokyo 2020 selectors.

After a morning postponement ashore, the 159 sailors from 57 countries were met by sunny skies and light winds for the first two races of the series. Sailors are competing in three fleets across the qualifying series to determine the gold, silver and bronze fleets later in the week.

In the blue fleet's opening race, American Henry Marshall took line honours, holding off Australia's Olympic gold medalist Tom Burton who scored the lowest single result of the day among the Australians. On cumulative points Mitch Kennedy is the best-placed Aussie, in 18th.

Matt Wearn is 21st among the international field and on his opening bout he commented: "After a short period onshore waiting for wind we got out on the water to a nice 4-6 knots. As I was in red fleet today it meant for a very long day on the water waiting for the other fleets to start. Not my best day of racing, scoring a 13th and a 7th in the light and shifty conditions. Plenty to work on going forward and I'm looking forward to more racing tomorrow."

Finn Alexander opened his world title challenge with a 12th then pushed a little too hard in race two. On his Black Flag result in race two Alexander said: "Obviously it's not the best way to start off the regatta, but I don't feel like anything drastic needs to change moving forward. It's a long event and I'll be taking each day as it comes. Lots of lessons learnt and I'm keen to reset and refocus for tomorrow's racing."

Qualifying races continue on Miho Bay on Friday July 5 with two races scheduled in forecast NE 8-12 knots.

To add to the pressure of this world championship, staged July 2 to 9, Olympic hopes are on the line as five sailors will qualify their countries to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Games. This is the third country qualifying event for the Laser Class, with 15 places awarded at the 2018 World Championship and one at the recent Asian Games.

It also marks the start of an extended run of events in the 2020 Olympic host nation which also includes the official Olympic test event and the World Cup Series Enoshima, both in August.

Australian Results Laser Standard (159 boats):

18th: Mitch Kennedy 4, 15 = 19 points
21st: Matt Wearn 13, 7 = 20 points
24th: Tom Burton, 2, 21 = 23 points
59th Luke Elliott 29, 13 = 42 points
99th Finn Alexander 12, 53 BFD = 69 points

Full results available here.

For more information visit website including live racing or Facebook page.

Related Articles

Some fish and crab may shift further north
New regional models are being developed for the Bering Sea to better anticipate climate change The eastern Bering Sea is a highly productive marine ecosystem, supporting more than 40 percent of the annual commercial fisheries landings by volume in the United States. Posted on 21 Dec
How the 2024 hurricane season impacted fishing
Learn how business owners, marine ecosystems, and recreational fishing seasons were affected The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ended on November 30, showcased above-average activity. It had a profound impact on recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, causing recreational fishers to face challenges and interim closures. Posted on 20 Dec
"Sober Skipper™ Why It Matters" video series
Featuring a diverse group of boating influencers The Sea Tow Foundation™, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting boating safety, is excited to launch its new video series titled "Sober Skipper™: Why It Matters." Posted on 14 Dec
Preferred line choice for pitching and flipping
When it comes to fishing line, the right choice can make all the difference When it comes to fishing line, the right choice can make all the difference in performance and your ability to put fish in the boat. Posted on 13 Dec
DAIWA: New TATULA now available
New versatile TATULA SV100 – with the SV BOOST System DAIWA's new versatile TATULA SV100 – with the SV BOOST System – is now available at dealers nationwide. Posted on 13 Dec
Freedom Boat Club teams up with Savvy Navvy
One of the Club's largest franchise groups in the US loves this navigation app Freedom Boat Club Delaware, part of one of the largest boat club communities in the US, has teamed up with Savvy Navvy to bring easier and safer navigation to more boaters. Here they reflect on how it has helped their boat club members. Posted on 13 Dec
IGFA Walker's Cay Shootout 2025
Inaugural billfish tournament combines competitive sportfishing and conservation in the Bahamas The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and Walker's Cay are proud to announce the inaugural IGFA Walker's Cay Shootout, taking place April 23-26, 2025, in the breathtaking waters of Walker's Cay, Bahamas. Posted on 12 Dec
47 Molokai Engine Package
Mercury 600hp Verado Outboards Unleash precision and power on the 47 Molokai with an upgraded engine package: twin Mercury Verado V12 600hp outboards. Posted on 12 Dec
Marine Auctions December Online Auction
Bidding to open Friday 13th and will close Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 2pm AEST Bidding to open Friday 13th and will close Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 2pm AEST. Posted on 9 Dec
Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries
Climate change is impacting the nation's valuable marine and Great Lakes ecosystems The NOAA Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative (CEFI) is an effort to provide decision-makers with the information they need to prepare for and adapt to changing oceans and climate. Posted on 7 Dec
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024