Team GB’s Micky Beckett won bronze at a gruelling ILCA 7 World Championships in Adelaide.
Beckett continues to show consistency as he builds towards his Olympic debut, backing up last year’s silver medals at the Allianz World Sailing Championships and the Paris 2024 Test Event in Marseille.
The 28-year-old won bronze with 41 points, well ahead of Germany’s Phillipp Buhl who was fourth with 65. Silver went to Hermann Tomasgaard of Norway with 34 and Australia’s Matt Wearn retained his title on home waters with a dominant performance, scoring 24.
Beckett said: “It was the toughest week of sailing of my life. I’m battered and bruised but to have the composure to finish that high up in the field in conditions that don’t suit me is very pleasing.
“That being said, I know there is work to be done ahead of Paris. I know exactly what I need to do and that gives me some reassurance. I’m quite looking forward to getting on with it to be honest, I don’t feel like I want a break now.”
The opening day took place in glamour conditions, with Beckett ending it in seventh but Whaley frustrated after seeing the second race called off when he was leading by a significant margin.
“Moments like that do reassure you that I’m doing the right thing and on the right path, it was only an act of nature that stopped me from winning it,” Whaley reflected. “It’s unlucky but that’s the sport we’re in.”
Beckett jumped into second place with a pair of wins in light winds on day three as Whaley finished an impressive second in the sixth race of the 11-race regatta.
A gusty fourth day brought a massive physical test, but Beckett was able to stay in touch, trailing Wearn by just one point at that stage.
Wearn took a nine-point lead into the medal race that he went on to win, with Beckett placing fifth.
Whaley led the rest of the British Sailing Team in finishing 18th, with Dan Whiteley coming 45th, James Percival-Cooke 60th and Fin Dickinson 72nd.
Dickinson said: “It’s been a tricky week. I don’t think I clicked with this venue very well, I never found myself doing things that resulted in me ending up near the front of the fleet. It’s not particularly an event-focused year for me, I’m just trying to work on my fitness.”
The ILCA 7 squad now have a quick turnaround to the European Championships in Athens later this month.
“I’d really hope that at the Europeans I can show what I can really do, that’s the perfect place to do it I think, straight after this, still hungry to do well and do as best as you can,” said Percival-Cooke.
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