Burton third at sailing world cup

NSWIS sailor Tom Burton has finished third in the Laser class at the Sailing World Cup Hyères. 

Trying conditions throughout the event tested the mettle of all competitors, but it was Burton’s Laser class that notably fell foul of the weather as they set out in heavy winds in excess of 15 knots (27.78 km/h). 

Burton crossed the line seventh, enough to claim the bronze medal in a race he described as ‘intense’. 

“The medal race in the Laser was pretty intense,” said Burton. 

“We went out in 15 knots and then by the start time it was around 25 knots. The first beat was super windy and down the first run it started to die and by the end of the race we had under five knots.

“Today was a little disappointing, I thought I was sailing quite well throughout the week. I was in it to win it, but that didn’t happen today.”

Fellow NSWIS athletes and cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin also raced to a third place in the medal race, to finish the event fifth overall in the Nacra 17 class. 

The next major world cup sailing event will be in Weymouth from June 6-12. It is the final big event prior to the Olympic Games.