USA gets measured at Oceania Champs

The 2020 World Championships for the 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 will have racing on February 10-15 in Geelong, Australia. As the final event of the US Olympic selection system, all eyes will be on the teams hoping to compete in Tokyo 2020. In advance of the Worlds was the Oceania Championships being held January 31 to February 3 at the same venue. Here’s the final report:

(February 3, 2020) – Riley Gibbs and Anna Weis (USA) used superior boats speed upwind in the flat water to narrowly win the Nacra 17 division by three points from Thomas Zajac/ Barbara Matz (AUT) and John Gimson and Anna Burnett (GBR). On a blustery final day, the Americans posted a 1-3 to move up, though the door was opened when previous leaders John Gimson and Anna Burnett (GBR), who have been selected for Tokyo 2020, opted to sit out the final race and begin their rest for the upcoming worlds.

Spain dominated the two skiff fleets, with Diego Botin and Iago Marra winning the only 49er race of the day to win by 12 points over current world champs Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL), while Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barcelo had a 3-1 in their two races today to also have a 12 point edge over kiwis Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech.

As a measure for the American skiff teams, Paris Henken and Anna Tobias are continuing to establish themselves as a top ten 49erFX team, finishing fourth with Stephanie Roble/ Maggie Shea in 15th. Among the men, they were all below the fold in the 49er, with only Andrew Mallerus/ Ian MacDiarmid making the gold flight, finishing 20 out of 25.

Event information: 2020-oceania-championship
Results: 49er – 49erFX – Nacra 17

Source: 9er Inc