SAILING: Australia’s Finn sailors have fought back in the closing stages of this week’s Finn Gold Cup in Gaeta, Italy, with Jake Lilley taking fourth position and Oliver Tweddell finishing eleventh overall.
The event got underway in very light conditions, with several races postponed early in the week due to a lack of wind. However, conditions improved as the week went on, and the Aussies revelled in the conditions.
After a slower start, Queenslander Jake Lilley came into the medal race on the final day in fifth overall. After posting 47, 14, and 21 in the first three races of the series, Lilley built some momentum and completed the last four races of the fleet racing series with a consistent 5, 6, 7, 6. A solid fourth placing in the medal race was enough to move Lilley into fourth on the overall standings.
“This week we were testing some new equipment. We made a lot of progress, learnt a lot and continued to refine the way I am sailing,” said Lilley at the conclusion of racing.
“The event was plagued with a lot of light winds. Eventually we got some wind on the penultimate day, then a light to moderate breeze for the medal race, right under the Old Town of Gaeta.
“This result was a personal best for me at the World Championships, and coming off the back of a win at Hyeres, I’m pretty happy.”
Conditions on the final day were lighter, with racing completed close to the city of Gaeta, making conditions quite tricky for the sailors. Shifting wind conditions made getting a start underway in the medal race challenging, with two attempts made before the race finally got underway. It was a tough start to the race for Lilley, who rounded the first mark in eighth position and had to claw his way back, ultimately crossing the finish line in fourth place.
Meanwhile Victorian Oliver Tweddell also came back for a strong finish in this regatta. After placing in the ‘twenties’ in the first four races, Tweddell posted a 2, 6, 2 in the final three races of the fleet racing series. However, his thirteenth overall going into the final day was not enough to put him into the Medal Race, with only the top ten boats sailing in this event. Instead, Tweddell competed in the final fleet race, winning it to move his overall standing up to eleventh place.
AUSTRALIAN SAILING TEAM
