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470 General Event News

AUSTRALIA ASSURES 470 OLYMPIC QUOTA AT SAIL SYDNEY SCORCHER

14 Dec 2023

Day four of Sail Sydney saw athletes reaching for whatever fluids they could find and racing for shade once ashore as Sydney put on a scorching 38-degrees for the penultimate day of the regatta.

 

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Sail Sydney 2023
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As if it were a competition, the wind gusted up to 37 knots on Botany Bay in the early afternoon, ensuring an abandonment of racing for the iQFOiL and Formula Kite classes.

In the early shift, the Australian Sailing Squad Mixed 470 team of Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas won both races in the hot, dry westerly to assure Australia of the Paris Olympic quota provided they can get through tomorrow’s Medal Race unscathed.

“It was like racing in a hairdryer,” explained Nicholas from the shade of Woollahra Sailing Club.

The Perth-based duo had to finish ahead of New Zealand to achieve the nation quota for the Paris Olympics next year. They hold a 34-point lead over the Kiwis, but still need to contest the race and avoid any false start penalties.

“Today our goal was to assure ourselves the Oceania nation quota which we were able to do before the final race as we now can’t be beaten by the New Zealanders so long as we complete the Medal Race tomorrow,” explained Jerwood.

“We still have a Medal Race tomorrow where we will be going out there fighting for the Gold.”

Tomorrow there will be Medal Races in the 49er, Mixed 470, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and a Medal Series in the Men’s Kitefoil.

Hydration and physical preparation are crucial on days like today, as Australian Sailing Team Dietician Samantha Lewis explained.

“We’re adding electrolytes to their drinks to aid with the retention of fluids and trying to keep their core temperatures down by offering them slushies, ice blocks and plenty of time in the ice bath.

“Recovery is also hugely important, so we’ve got good quality foods which focus on hydration in the recovery phase. Along with plenty of protein it will aid muscle recovery and muscle repair to ensure there is plenty of energy to push on tomorrow.”

The final day of Sail Sydney is scheduled to start at midday tomorrow at both George’s Reiver Sailing Club (Men’s Formula Kite and Men’s and Women’s iQFOiL) and Woollahra Sailing Club (all other classes).

Visit the sailsydney.org website for more information on the regatta, and view a full list of results here.